Some feared Scotland’s World Cup dream would melt on the plastic in Vilnius but instead it was recycled.
The visitors played as if they didn’t have a care in the world, never mind worrying about the LFF Stadium’s artificial surface.
Lively and inventive, the Scots took a well-deserved lead on 25 minutes when former Dundee United star Stuart Armstrong headed home a Leigh Griffiths corner.
Then a quite beautiful goal from ex-Tangerines full-back Andy Robertson on the half-hour mark made it two as Gordon Strachan’s players caused utter chaos in the home defence.
James McArthur made it 3-0 on 72 minutes and it was all over.
The watchword for Strachan pre-match was “believe” and suddenly Group F looks better, especially with the points tally now 11 and with a home game against minnows Malta to come on Monday night.
It may have been the late, late show, with the match not kicking off until a quarter to 10 local time, but Scotland’s players were definitely wide awake, right from the first whistle.
There were three changes to the line-up for the 2-2 draw with England, with McArthur, Matt Phillips and James Forrest in for Ikechi Anya, James Morrison and Robert Snodgrass.
No fewer than six Celtic players made it: Armstrong, Griffiths, keeper Craig Gordon, Kieran Tierney, captain Scott Brown and Forrest.
Remarkably, the only survivor from the side that started the 1-1 draw against Lithuania last October was Robertson.
The match came to life on six minutes when a great run by Robertson saw him pick out Griffiths just outside the box. The Hoops striker took a touch, spun around and then fired wide of the post.
The next chance was made at Celtic Park, with Forrest, Tierney and Armstrong linking up before the former Tannadice man curled the ball wide.
On 10 minutes, though, the home team almost took the lead when James McArthur threw away good possession. Arvydas Novikovas turned Scots defender Christphe Berra inside out before pulling his shot wide.
Just a minute later, Phillips blasted a strike over as the Lithuanian defence struggled to cope with the visitors’ pace before Armstrong just missed the post with a drive from 25 yards.
On 21 minutes, a superbly-struck setpiece from 30 yards by Novikovas had Gordon producing an excellent save to push it the ball away for a corner.
It was almost Griffiths-like and, almost on cue, the Scotland striker stepped up at the other end to fire a freekick just wide.
After another Griffiths shot was deflected wide, the Scots took a dramatic lead on 25 minutes. The frontman took the corner from the right and Armstrong bulleted home a header to make it 1-0.
It was the Aberdeen-born Armstrong’s first goal for his country and you imagine many more will follow.
Just five minutes later and it was two.
Nice work on the left flank from Phillips saw him find Forrest and then the ball made its way to Robertson just outside the area. The former Tannadice star, now lording it at Liverpool, took a touch with his right before scooping his left-foot shot high into the net.
It was a brilliant strike and the Scots were roared off at half-time by the Tartan Army.
On 52 minutes, Robertson swung a cross over from the left that was met by Griffiths but squeezed past the back post.
Scotland’s players were loving it out there but they got a reminder on the hour mark that Lithuania were still battling away, with Hibs player Vykintas Slivka missing a good chance right in front of goal.
Forrest was replaced by Matt Ritchie on 66 minutes before Charlie Mulgrew was booked for fouling Darvydas Sernas.
With 70 minutes on the clock, Armstrong shot straight at keeper Ernestas Setkus but just two minutes later it was 3-0.
McArthur’s close-range shot struck the goalie on its way into the net after some terrible defending from the hosts but the Scot wasn’t caring how it came about.
Griffiths made way for Chris Martin on 79 minutes then, an outstanding night’s work done, Armstrong made way for John McGinn.
The Scots then comfortably saw the match out, with subs Ritchie and Martin both coming close late on.
Attendance: 5,500 (est).
Lithuania: Setkus, Freidgeimas, Kijanskas, Vaitkunas, Sernas (Mateluvicius 81), Novokovas, Slivka (Verbickas 79), Kuklys, Zulpa (Spalvis 68), Borovskij, Cernych. Subs not used: Zubas, Cerniauskas, Kilmavicius, Grigaravicius, Silenas, Girdvainis, Beneta, Vorobjovas.
Scotland: Gordon, Tierney, Robertson, Berra, Mulgrew, McArthur, Armstrong (McGinn 85), Brown, Griffiths (C. Martin 79), Phillips, Forrest (Ritchie 66). Subs not used: McGregor, Archer, Anya, Hanley, Bannan, Naismith, Morrison, Fraser, Whittaker.
Referee: Carlos Del Cerro (Spain).
