Auda end the two-game losing streak with a win over Super Nova

In a tightly contested TonyBet Virslīga Round 21 clash, FK Auda claimed a narrow 1–0 win over SK Super Nova thanks to a second-half strike from Renārs Varslavāns.

Heading into the match, neither team was enjoying strong form — Super Nova were winless in their last four outings, while FK Auda arrived on a two-match losing streak. Their head-to-heads this season had been evenly matched: Auda escaped with a late win in the first meeting courtesy of now-departed winger Abiodun Ogunniyi, and earned a draw in May thanks to a penalty converted by Kémehlo Nguena.

This time, Super Nova were without two key players — left-back Hamidou Kante, recently announced as a new signing for Czech side SK Artis Brno, and forward Ruslans Deružinskis, now with FS Jelgava. However, all three summer signings were available, with Ralfs Maslovs making the starting XI.

Auda, dealing with the departures of several leaders such as Emīls Birka, Rihards Matrevics, Rafael Pontello, and Ogunniyi, fielded a slightly thinned squad. Still, there were bright signs: starting goalkeeper Roberts Ozols returned after a two-game absence, and Denis Meļņiks was back from suspension. Also rejoining the lineup were Karl Wassom, Kémehlo Nguena, Renārs Varslavāns, and Enzo Monteiro.

The match’s first shot on target came in the 14th minute, when Auda’s young Ivorian midfielder Kader Koné tested Franko Orola from long range — a routine save for the Super Nova keeper. Super Nova responded with a promising chance of their own after a fine passing sequence led to Agris Glaudāns finding Ralfs Šitjakovs in the box. However, the young attacker hesitated, allowing Ozols to close him down and nullify the threat.

The first half passed without major incidents, but Auda broke the deadlock shortly after the break. Nguena charged into the penalty area and played a clever ball to Varslavāns, who drilled a low shot through traffic to notch his fourth goal of the season.

Both sides traded dangerous long-range efforts in the remaining minutes, though neither team found the accuracy needed to change the scoreline. Super Nova’s best chance to equalize came at the death when Mouhamed Dione won an aerial duel and nodded the ball into the path of Virslīga debutant Emīls Sprukts. The youngster lacked the pace to break free and opted for a shot under pressure, which missed the target.

In stoppage time, Auda nearly sealed the win with a second goal as Ousmane Camara burst forward and struck a powerful shot with his right foot, only to be denied by the woodwork.

The final whistle confirmed a 1–0 victory for Auda, who now close the gap to third-place FK Liepāja to just one point. Super Nova, meanwhile, remain in eighth place and fail to leapfrog FK Grobiņa.

SK Super Nova vs FK Auda – 0:1 (0:0)
Goals: Varslavāns 47′
SUP: Orols, Zeņģis (Dione 85′), Augusts, Ošs, Vējkrīgers, Tihonovičs (Kļaviņš 85′), Čudars, Šitjakovs (Sprukts 64′), Nakamura, Glaudāns (Grikovs 76′), Maslovs (Miņins 64′)
AUD: Ozols, Ogunji, Wassom, Meļņiks, Hrvoj, I. Kone, Varslavāns (Kane 76′), Nguena, Monteiro (Stevenson 83′), Rubenis (Camara 83′), K. Kone (Traore 63′)

Virslīga Matchday 21 games:

• 30.06.2025 – BFC Daugavpils vs FC RFS – 1:7
• 30.06.2025 – FK Liepāja vs FK Grobiņa – 1:0
• 01.07.2025 – SK Super Nova vs FK Auda – 0:1
• 01.07.2025 – Riga FC vs FS Jelgava – 3:0
• 02.07.2025 – FK Metta vs FK Tukums 2000 – 19:00