The 24th round of Latvia’s second-tier Nākotnes līga delivered another dramatic matchday on Saturday, with six of the seven fixtures producing decisive results.
In Mežaparks, Riga-2, reinforced by senior-team players Brian Peña, Emīls Birka and Karl Wassom, defeated Ogre United 2–1. Ugandan forward Johnson Kabagambe scored both goals for the hosts — his ninth in eight games — while 20-year-old Ukrainian Timofiy Marusiy struck late to narrow the deficit. Without suspended Haralds Silagailis, Ogre could not rescue a point and were forced to surrender the auto-promotion spot.
Earlier in the day, JDFS Alberts outlasted Tukums 2000 II 4–3 in a wide-open, end-to-end match. The hosts saw a 1–0 lead overturned within a minute as Niks Dusalijevs and Japanese midfielder Mikaze Nagasawa beat veteran goalkeeper Germans Māliņš. But Alberts equalised through a double from Sierra Leonean striker Sufian Kalokoh, before late goals by Matīss Zēģelis and 16-year-old Fabio Rocha sealed the win. Tukums reduced the margin in added time via Raivis Ķiršs, who had featured for the first team the previous evening at Skonto Stadium.
In Smiltene, Riga Mariners came from behind to win 3–1 and reclaim first place. Ivan Smirnov had given the hosts an early lead, but the league’s top scorer Algirdas Gražis responded with a hat-trick — his second in eight days — scoring in the 45th, 75th and 87th minutes.
The Mariners’ debut season in the Nākotnes līga has been closely watched due to their ties with Virslīga champions Riga FC. Club director Jurijs Pavlovskis also serves as grassroots director at Riga FC Academy, while Aleksandr Abuzjarov, owner of the Mariners’ main sponsor Marine Underwriting Services, heads the Riga FC Academy.
Head coach Sergejs Kožans has downplayed the speculation: “People talk about our links with ‘Riga’, but in reality they’re against us,” he told Sportacentrs.com. “We train at the latest hours, sometimes even in parks just to cover the distance. There’s no direct support — our focus is purely on results.”
Kožans added that questions about promotion readiness should be directed to Abuzjarov: “The desire to reach the Virslīga is there. If it happens, the club will meet all licensing requirements. But we’ve never been given an explicit order to win promotion this season.”
For Ogre United, defeat was a setback in their push for top-flight football. Co-founder Emīls Latkovskis previously told the show “(Bez)maksas sports” that promotion remains “a realistic and achievable goal through passion, volunteer effort and strong municipal support.” Founded only three years ago, Ogre United represents Latvia’s largest city never to have had a Virslīga club — something the club is determined to not hold on to for longer than necessary.
Next round, Alberts visit Ilūkste, Ogre United host Skanste, and Riga Mariners face RFS 2. The season concludes on 8 November, when Alberts meet Mariners in what could prove a decisive clash for the promotion.
Source: https://sportacentrs.com/futbols/1_liga/25102025-riga_dublieri_sanem_pastiprinajumu_un_aps
