Zalgiris ready for Amex challenge after domestic cup success

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Thursday's UEFA Conference League visitors head to Sussex after winning their domestic cup final on Sunday.

Luke Nicoli

2026-10-13T10:00+01:00

The FK Kauno Zalgiris players celebrate Sunday's cup final victory. 📷FK Kauno Zalgiris.

Kauno Zalgiris geared up for their UEFA Conference League encounter with Albion on Thursday by winning the Lithuanian Cup on Sunday.

With the domestic season drawing to a close, the Green-Whites faced second-tier Kretinga Minija and cruised to a 3-0 victory.

The final was played at the Darius and Girenas Stadium in Kaunas, the team’s home stadium, and they took advantage of a robust partizan support by scoring in the 22nd minute when Leon Krekovic fired home.

It was a deserved lead but having also missed a penalty through star man Amine Benchaib, Zeljko Sopic’s side had to wait until the 51st minute to double their account when Gabriel Debeljuh netted following good work from Benchaib.

Victory was then sealed 17 minutes from time through Marko Konatar, who rose to power home a Krekovic cross.

Leon Krekovic put Zalgiris ahead in their cup-final win on Sunday. 📷FK Kauno Zalgiris

Kauno had failed to get past the semi-final stage on four recent occasions, but this first-ever cup success has followed the side’s debut A-Lyga title last November.

“I am incredibly proud of my guys,” said Sopic after the game. “The way they played, the way they train, the way they work every day, it's something amazing.

“You have to understand that this is the first time in the club's history that we have won a cup. We knew that it would not be easy, because there were so many matches and various challenges ahead, but in the end, we won the cup. We will celebrate a little and then we will start preparing for Thursday.”

Kauno Zalgiris’ visit to Sussex will mark the first time they have played English opposition, and Sopic is naturally expecting a tougher test than the one they faced against the Lithuanian second division leaders on Sunday.

“Brighton are a slightly better team. Not by much, but a little better,” he laughed. “I watched their match on Saturday [against Sunderland], and I also saw how they played against Manchester United and Arsenal. They have a very good coach; they are a top-level team.

“We have a huge challenge ahead of us, but we will prepare well. I hope that we will give everything we can on the pitch, and then everything will be in God's hands.”

Kauno also have a strong chance of retaining their league title and currently sit one point ahead of Suduva, who they face on Sunday, with a game in hand.

“We already had a plan before this match, which players would play today and which ones on Thursday,” Sopic told www.15min.lt. “And then we will have to prepare for a very important match against Suduva, because the championship is everything to us.

“If we want to be at the same stage we are at now next year, and maybe achieve even more, we must win the championship. After all, becoming a champion makes the path easier. More opportunities open up to move forward.”