The 2019 LFF I Lyga was the 30th season of the I Lyga, the second tier association football league of Lithuania. The season began on 22 March 2019 and finished in 27 October 2019.

I Lyga
Season2019
2018
2020

Licensing process

edit

The Lithuanian Football Federation initially granted applications for 2019 LFF I Lyga licenses: [1] FK Banga Gargždai, FK Nevėžis, FC Pakruojis, FC Džiugas, Žalgiris B, Stumbras B, Riteriai B (Trakai B).

After the appeal, on 28 February 2019 Lithuanian Football Federation granted licenses[2] to FK Vilnius (Baltijos Futbolo Akademija), FK Minija Kretinga, DFK Dainava, Vilniaus Vytis, FK Atmosfera (2012), FC Hegelmann Litauen.

The final decision on the number of teams in 2019 LFF I Lyga was made by the Lithuanian Football Federation executive committee meeting on 15 March 2019.[3] Exceptions were applied to FK Jonava (financial criteria were not met), FC Kupiškis (sporting criteria were not met) and FA Šiauliai (legal criteria were not met) and the teams were allowed to start in the 2019 LFF I Lyga championship, pending criteria to be met by June. The 16 team championship started on 22 March 2019.

The applications for the 2019 LFF I Lyga licenses were also received from FK Sveikata Kybartai, FM Ateitis and FK NFA but licenses were not granted. FK Utenis Utena shareholders voted to withdraw from participation in 2019 LFF I Lyga, and the club will participate in 2019 LFF II Lyga. FK Koralas Klaipėda was dissolved in 2018.

Team Town Stadium Capacity Notes
FK Jonava Jonava Jonavos miesto stadionas 1,400 Relegated from A Lyga. Granted participation by exception
FK Banga Gargždai Gargždų miesto stadionas 3,250
DFK Dainava Alytus Alytaus miesto stadionas 4,000
FC Džiugas Telšiai Telšių miesto centrinis stadionas 3,000
FK Nevėžis Kėdainiai Kėdainių miesto centrinis stadionas 3,000
FC Pakruojis Pakruojis Pakruojo miesto stadionas 2,000
Riteriai B Vilnius LFF stadionas 5,400 Renamed from Trakai B
Stumbras B Kaunas NFA stadionas 1,000
FA Šiauliai Šiauliai Savivaldybės stadionas 9,125 Granted participation by exception
Vilniaus Vytis Vilnius LFF stadionas 5,400
FK Vilnius (2019) Vilnius Fabijoniškių stadionas 340 Renamed from Baltijos Futbolo Akademija
Žalgiris B Vilnius LFF stadionas 5,400
FC Kupiškis Kupiškis Kupiškio miesto stadionas 1,000 Relegated from I Lyga, but granted participation by exception
FK Atmosfera (2012) Mažeikiai Mažeikių miesto stadionas 2,500 Promoted from II Lyga
FC Hegelmann Litauen Kaunas NFA stadionas 1,000 Promoted from II Lyga
FK Minija (2017) Kretinga Kretingos miesto stadionas 1,000 Promoted from II Lyga
FK Utenis Utena Utena Withdrew from participation in I Lyga
FK NFA Kaunas Dissolved as part of NFA restructuring
FK Koralas Klaipėda Klaipėda Dissolved in 2018

Participants

edit

Final standings

edit

After FC Stumbras ran into financial difficulties in June the Lithuania Football Federation made a decision to withdraw their license from A lyga, and Stumbras B from I lyga.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 FC Džiugas Telšiai 28 19 4 5 58 23 +35 61 Promotion
2 FK Banga Gargždai 28 17 5 6 57 24 +33 56 Won promotion play-off
3 Vilniaus Vytis 28 17 4 7 74 31 +43 55
4 DFK Dainava 28 17 2 9 64 32 +32 53
5 FK Nevėžis Kėdainiai 28 16 4 8 66 37 +29 52
6 FA Šiauliai 28 14 5 9 61 37 +24 47
7 FC Hegelmann Litauen 28 12 8 8 57 42 +15 44
8 FK Minija (2017) 28 12 5 11 54 49 +5 41
9 FK Jonava 28 12 4 12 55 46 +9 40
10 FC Kupiškis 28 10 6 12 49 56 −7 36
11 FK Vilnius (2019) 28 10 3 15 56 53 +3 33
12 Riteriai B 28 9 5 14 61 49 +12 32
13 Žalgiris B 28 6 4 18 43 83 −40 22 Relegation
14 FK Atmosfera (2012) 28 3 4 21 23 96 −73 13
15 FC Pakruojis 28 3 3 22 25 145 −120 12
16 FC Stumbras B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrawn
Source: [citation needed]

FC Džiugas Telšiai earned promotion to A lyga, subject to meeting licensing criteria. FK Banga Gargždai earned a play-off with A lyga 7th placed FK Palanga.

Promotion play-off
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
FK Banga Gargždai 4 : 2 FK Palanga 2 : 0 2 : 2

Top scorers

edit
# Player Team Goals
1–2.   José Luis Balanta DFK Dainava 19
1–2.   Evaldas Kugys Nevėžis Kėdainiai 19
3.   Mantas Makutunovičius Vilniaus Vytis 17

References

edit
  1. ^ "LFF I lygos licencijos suteiktos septyniems klubams ir komandoms". LFF.lt.
  2. ^ "I lygos licencijos suteiktos dar šešiems klubams". LFF.lt.
  3. ^ "VK posėdyje – sprendimai dėl I lygos dalyvių skaičiaus". LFF.lt.