25 Sept 2026

Lithuania beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in Nations League

Lithuania opened their UEFA Nations League, League D Group 2 campaign with a calm 2-0 win over Liechtenstein in Vaduz. After a tight first half, Lukas Michelbrink broke the game open on 53 minutes, then substitute Artur Dolznikov sealed it at 66. The visitors’ control of possession, passing and territory did the heavy lifting, and the shot count followed. Liechtenstein battled, hit the woodwork once and cleared plenty, but could not register a shot on target. For full match data, lineups and the Sofascore Ratings, visit the Liechtenstein vs Lithuania match page on Sofascore.

Key moments and how the match turned

The first half ended 0-0, with Lithuania probing and Liechtenstein holding their 5-3-2 shape. Chances were limited before the break, yet the away side already led corners 6-0 and shots 6-2. The restart brought the breakthrough when Armandas Kučys teed up Michelbrink, who finished from inside the box for 1-0 at 53 minutes. That strike reflected the flow, as Lithuania kept pinning the hosts back and pushing entries into the final third.

Edgaras Jankauskas’ bench added the final touch, with Dolznikov introduced on 61 minutes and scoring at 66 from a Gvidas Gineitis assist. The sequence that led to 2-0 featured clean passing from the back and a sharp right-foot finish. Liechtenstein’s best moment had arrived earlier when Aron Sele hit the frame, but it stayed out. A late flurry of home substitutions could not swing momentum, and three minutes of added time ticked away without drama. Lithuania’s 4-3-3 was in control from back to front by the end.

Possession and passing control define the away win

On the ball, Lithuania owned 73% possession and completed 678 of 763 passes, a striking contrast to Liechtenstein’s 213 of 292. The visitors racked up 76 final third entries and a 69% success rate in the final-third phase, highlighting sustained pressure. Long balls were a weapon too, landing 37 of 59 at 63% accuracy to bypass pressure and change angles. Crosses found targets with regularity, 9 of 24 completed for 38%, which steadily stretched the five-man home back line. It is no surprise corners finished 8-0 to Lithuania.

Liechtenstein had only 25 final third entries and completed 17 of 40 actions in that zone at 43%. Their crossing output was 0 of 1, underscoring how little the visitors allowed from wide areas. The tempo and security of Lithuania’s buildup meant fewer defensive transitions and more time dictating where the game was played. Average team Sofascore Ratings reflected that, 7.48 for Lithuania against 6.50 for the hosts. In short, the ball stayed yellow, and so did the initiative.

Shot volume, xG and touches in the box tell the story

Shot volume leaned heavily away from Vaduz’s goal: Lithuania led 16-4 in total attempts and 7-0 in shots on target. The expected goals models matched the eye test, with Lithuania at 1.38 xG compared to Liechtenstein’s 0.08. Expected goals on target added another layer, 1.31 to 0.00, showing better shot quality and placement from the visitors. Touches in the penalty area finished 39-1 in Lithuania’s favor, a clear indicator of territorial control. Big chances closed at 2-0, with one converted and one missed by the away team.

Liechtenstein’s four shots all missed the target, and one of their rare forays did bring a thump off the woodwork. Outside-the-box attempts were relatively balanced, 5-3 to Lithuania, but the real separation came inside the area, 11-1. The second-half split showed acceleration, with Lithuania outshooting the hosts 10-2 after the interval. Once Michelbrink scored, Lithuania kept the footwork tidy and the pressure consistent. It was clinical enough without ever becoming frantic.

Defensive workload, duels and goalkeeping

Without the ball, Liechtenstein worked hard and posted bigger defensive counts: 17 tackles to 13, 12 interceptions to 6 and a heavy 36-5 edge in clearances. Those totals came from long spells in their own third, where blocks and last-ditch actions were frequent. Duels were close overall, 51% to 49% for Lithuania, with the visitors also edging aerials 10 of 19. Lithuania’s dribbles landed at 4 of 14, while the home side finished 1 of 4, another small tilting point in 1v1 moments. Discipline was even, one yellow card each, with fouls close at 14-15.

Benjamin Büchel logged five saves and two high claims but posted -0.69 goals prevented, a sign Lithuania’s finishing tilted the math. In contrast, Džiugas Bartkus had a quiet night with no saves required. The game plan from Lithuania’s back line worked, with quick distribution and accurate long passes to break lines. That reduced defending in volume and kept midfielders active on recoveries rather than emergency clearances. The result felt secure once the second goal landed.

MVP: Lukas Michelbrink’s midfield shift

Lukas Michelbrink earned a standout Sofascore Rating of 8.8 by guiding Lithuania’s control and scoring the opener. He completed 74 of 82 passes, split smartly between halves, and added one key pass to keep pressure building. His two shots included the crucial finish, backed by 0.2706 expected goals and 0.2164 xGOT. Out of possession he won 3 of 3 tackles, chipped in with six recoveries and handled duels well to keep Lithuania on the front foot. The ball found him often, with 97 touches and 40 carries that moved Lithuania upfield.

He added real progression, totalling 327.5 meters carried and 164.2 meters of forward movement, which helped Lithuania sustain territory. That influence showed in how often Lithuania entered and stayed in the final third. Brief nods to other high performers are fair too. Edgaras Utkus posted an 8.1 with 145 passes and 150 touches anchoring the back line, while Gvidas Gineitis delivered six key passes and an assist. From the bench, Artur Dolznikov scored for a 7.7, and Kipras Kazukolovas’ 7.5 came with 103 passes and 99 completed.