The 24th round of the TonyBet Virslīga kicked off with a goalless draw at Jānis Skredelis Stadium, as SK Super Nova and FK Grobiņa shared the points in a match that saw few clear chances but several tactical changes from both sides.
Super Nova responded to their disastrous 0:26 shot count performance against FS Jelgava with three starting lineup changes. The team welcomed back their top scorer Dmytro Sula after a three-game injury absence. Summer signing Lenards Bērziņš, recently acquired from FK Metta, made his full debut, while Ralfs Šitjakovs returned to the XI after spending the last match on the bench.
On the other side, FK Grobiņa looked to rebound from a painful defeat against rivals FK Tukums 2000, making two changes. Ralfs Denijs Džeriņš and Dēvids Dobrecovs returned to the starting eleven, while Zakaria Sdaigui (injured) and Maksims Sidorovs (suspended) were unavailable.
Both teams approached the game cautiously, likely influenced by the intense summer heat. The first significant threat came in the 12th minute when Lithuanian defender Rolandas Baravykas got on the end of a cross from Jānis Krautmanis at the far post, but his header missed the target.
Long-range efforts were the main theme in the first half. Grobiņa tested from distance via Dobrecovs, but it flew over the bar. Super Nova replied through Kristers Čudars and Agris Glaudāns. The home side’s best first-half chance came from a deflected Ralfs Maslovs strike that was heading toward the bottom corner, but former Super Nova goalkeeper Frenks Dāvids Orols made the save.
Grobiņa’s most dangerous moment before the break came from Rodrigo Gaučis, whose close-range shot was parried by Dāvis Viljams Veisbuks at the near post.
The second half opened more quietly. Both sides seemed wary of taking too many risks. The best opportunity of the match fell to Grobiņa in the 67th minute when Džeriņš delivered a pinpoint through ball to Baravykas, who got a shot off from a tight angle while falling – only to be denied by the post.
In the closing stages, Super Nova pushed harder. Their most dangerous moment came from 18-year-old Emīls Sprukts, who fired a fierce shot from tight angle, only to see Orols make a crucial stop with his feet to preserve the clean sheet.
It was the third draw of the season between these two sides, leaving their league positions unchanged. Super Nova remain in seventh place with 22 points, while Grobiņa trail by two in ninth place.
Super Nova, who have failed to score more than one goal in any league match since early June, will next host BFC Daugavpils on Saturday. Grobiņa return to Liepāja on Sunday to take on title challengers RFS.
SK Super Nova vs FK Grobiņa – 0:0 (0:0)
Goals:
SUP: Veisbuks, Vējkrīgers, Augusts, Deklavs, Tihonovičs, Šitjakovs (Emsis 68′), Bērziņš, Maslovs (Zeņģis 77′), Čudars, Glaudāns (Skadmanis 90’+1), Sula (Sprukts 68′)
GRO: Orols, Družiņins, Džeriņš (Fjodorovs 81′), Tchamba, Morarenko, Grjaznovs, Krautmanis, Baravykas (Bekili 76′), Gaučis (Kalmarzy 81′), Doudou, Dobrecovs (Knapšis 76′)
Virslīga Matchday 24 games:
- 26.07.2025 – SK Super Nova vs FK Grobiņa – 0:0
- 26.07.2025 – FC RFS vs FK Tukums 2000 – 19:00
- 27.07.2025 – BFC Daugavpils vs FS Jelgava – 15:00
- 27.07.2025 – FK Liepāja vs FK Auda – 17:00
- 27.07.2025 – Riga FC vs FK Metta – 18:00
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Riga FC | 36 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 59 | 88 |
| 2 | FC RFS | 36 | 28 | 3 | 5 | 61 | 87 |
| 3 | FK Liepāja | 36 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 61 |
| 4 | BFC Daugavpils | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | -10 | 48 |
| 5 | FK Auda | 36 | 13 | 6 | 17 | -5 | 45 |
| 6 | FS Jelgava | 36 | 8 | 14 | 14 | -7 | 38 |
| 7 | FK Tukums 2000 | 36 | 9 | 9 | 18 | -24 | 36 |
| 8 | SK Super Nova | 36 | 6 | 14 | 16 | -12 | 32 |
| 9 | FK Grobiņa | 36 | 8 | 8 | 20 | -31 | 32 |
| 10 | FK Metta | 36 | 8 | 7 | 21 | -35 | 31 |
