In the closing match of Round 33 of the Latvian Virslīga, FK Liepāja clinched a crucial away victory over FK Auda, securing a return to European competitions and claiming the bronze medals for the 2025 season – their first top-three finish since 2021.
Liepāja entered the match with clear motivation, knowing a win would lock in third place in the league table. During the recent international break, the club confirmed that head coach Andreas Alm and his staff would remain in charge until at least the end of 2027, a sign of stability after a strong second half of the season.
Auda, meanwhile, found itself in a transitional phase. After the departure of Jurgis Kalns and his staff, former Riga FC head coach Mihails Koņevs stepped in as interim manager, tasked with steadying the team during the final stretch.
The home side struck early. A cross into the box from loanee Ivan Erquiaga led to a mishap from Vladislavs Sorokins, who accidentally redirected the ball into his own net. But Liepāja quickly responded: top scorer Djibril Gueye capitalized on a poorly cleared corner, smashing the ball past goalkeeper Roberts Ozols to level the match at 1-1.
The second half opened with chances at both ends. Marin Lausic forced a save from Ozols, while at the other end Deniss Meļņiks tested Liepāja’s defense with a long-range effort. Soon after, goalkeeper Dāvis Ošs – making only his second league appearance this season – produced a key save to deny Eduards Dašķevičs from a tight angle.
Ošs’s performance proved decisive. His confident goalkeeping kept Liepāja in the game and paved the way for the winner. In the 75th minute, a corner swung into the box by Kirils Iļjins was inadvertently turned into the net by Meļņiks, giving Liepāja a 2-1 lead.
The visitors then held firm in the closing stages, securing all three points and sealing a bronze-medal finish. After missing out on Europe in 2024, Liepāja is now officially back on the continental stage.
With this result, three of the four European spots allocated to Latvia are now taken. The final ticket will be decided between Auda and BFC Daugavpils.
FK Auda vs FK Liepāja – 1:2 (1:1)
Goals: Sorokins 7′ (Own goal) | Gueye 20′, Meļņiks 75′ (Own goal)
Virslīga Matchday 33:
- 18.10.2025 – FS Jelgava vs BFC Daugavpils – 0:0
- 18.10.2025 – FK Grobiņa vs SK Super Nova – 0:0
- 19.10.2025 – FK Tukums 2000 vs FC RFS – 2:4
- 19.10.2025 – FK Metta vs Riga FC – 0:1
- 20.10.2025 – FK Auda vs FK Liepāja – 1:2
| # | 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 |
