Jelgava puts four past RFS and stun champions with historic win

One of the biggest shocks of the TonyBet Virslīga season unfolded at LNK Sporta Parks, where reigning champions RFS were humbled 1-4 at home by struggling FS Jelgava. For Jelgava, it was not only their first away victory of the season but also a historic triumph – the first time RFS have ever conceded four goals at home in league play against a Latvian side.

RFS entered the match under pressure. Knocked out of the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying rounds and struggling for rhythm in the league despite narrow wins over Metta (3-2) and Auda (1-0), they badly needed a strong performance to keep pace with league leaders Riga FC. Facing a Jelgava team that had won just once in their last 11 matches and failed to win any of their 14 away games this season, the champions were expected to restore their authority. Instead, the visitors had other ideas.

In the 11th minute, Jelgava’s Czech connection struck first: Ondřej Ullman slid a pass inside for David Holoubek, who fired from distance past Marko Marić to make it 0-1. RFS pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but they were denied repeatedly by Jelgava’s outstanding goalkeeper Adam Dvořák, who pulled off a string of saves, including efforts from the league’s top scorer Darko Lemajić.

The situation worsened dramatically for RFS late in the first half. In the 38th minute, Kingsley Emenike pounced on a pass from Martin Hašek to score from close range, notching his sixth goal of the season. Five minutes later, Hašek turned scorer himself, unleashing a thunderous strike from distance to send Jelgava into halftime with an astonishing 0-3 lead.

RFS responded with changes after the break, introducing Cedric Kouadio for his first appearance since May 9, but the tide did not turn. Instead, Jelgava added a fourth goal in the 63rd minute when Emenike capitalized on a dreadful defensive mistake by Aleksandar Filipović to race clear and finish coolly for 0-4. The champions were reeling, facing a scoreline unprecedented in their home history.

RFS managed only a late consolation when Mārtiņš Ķigurs scored his first goal since October 2024, finishing from a Jānis Ikaunieks assist. Yet it did little to soften the blow of a historic defeat.

For Jelgava, this was a night of firsts: their first away win of the season after 15 attempts, an end to a five-match winless streak, and a vital boost in the fight to pull away from the league’s bottom places. For RFS, the defeat makes their title challenge far more complicated. They remain three points behind Riga FC, who still have a game in hand against Auda.

The champions also face a difficult week ahead: a Latvian Cup semifinal against Auda on September 17, followed just four days later by a league test against an in-form BFC Daugavpils. Jelgava, meanwhile, will host league leaders Riga FC in their next outing.

FC RFS vs FS Jelgava – 1:4 (0:3)
Goals: Ķigurs 75′ | Holoubek 11′, Emenike 38′ 73′, M.Hašek 43′

Virslīga Matchday 29:

• 13.09.2025 – FC RFS vs FS Jelgava – 1:4
• 13.09.2025 – Riga FC vs FK Auda – 18:00
• 14.09.2025 – Metta vs Super Nova – 16:00
• 14.09.2025 – FK Liepaja vs Tukums 2000 – 19:00
• 15.09.2025 – BFC Daugavpils vs Grobina – 17:30