Ogre United earn historic promotion to Virslīga after dramatic final day

Ogre United will represent the Latvian Virslīga next season after an extraordinary final day in the Nākotnes Līga, where three clubs entered the last round with a chance to win the title.

In a tense finish packed with twists, Ogre United defeated SC Mārupe 1-0 away, while JDFS Alberts beat Riga Mariners with the 2-0 scoreline in Rīga – a combination of results that left all three sides tied on points. However, Ogre United claimed the championship – and automatic promotion – thanks to a superior head-to-head record. JDFS Alberts finished second and will enter the promotion/relegation play-off, while Riga Mariners, league leaders before the final round, heartbreakingly dropped to third and missed out completely.

Ogre’s win in Jaunmārupe came courtesy of Vadym Mashchenko, who scored a brilliant first-half free-kick to give his side the crucial lead. From there, they held firm defensively to keep their dream alive – but their fate still depended on the match in Rīga.

Meanwhile, at RTU Stadium, JDFS Alberts entered their decisive match knowing they needed to beat Riga Mariners by at least three goals and hope Ogre dropped points. The home side started on the front foot, dominating possession and creating several chances from corners, but were repeatedly denied by experienced Riga goalkeeper Vladislavs Kurakins.

At half-time, with the score still 0-0, Riga Mariners were virtual champions, holding the top spot ahead of Ogre United and JDFS Alberts. But the second half changed everything.

The breakthrough came when Dāvis Indrāns fired a stunning strike under the crossbar to give Alberts a 1-0 lead, sparking wild celebrations both in the stands and in Jaunmārupe – as that goal temporarily pushed Riga Mariners down to third.

Riga Mariners head coach Sergejs Kožāns responded with attacking substitutions, sending on experienced forwards in search of an equaliser, but Germans Māliņš produced a commanding display in goal for Alberts. The Mariners’ hopes took another hit when Deņiss Rogovs received a second yellow card, leaving them down to ten men.

JDFS Alberts kept pushing, and Markuss Prohorenkovs doubled the lead late on with a sharp finish from a tight angle to make it 2-0. Riga Mariners were now almost out of the title race entirely – their only hope lying in a late Mārupe equaliser against Ogre United, which never came.

When the final whistles blew nearly simultaneously in Rīga and Jaunmārupe, Ogre United could finally celebrate a historic first-ever promotion to the Latvian top flight. JDFS Alberts will have one more chance to join them through the Virslīga play-off, while Riga Mariners were left stunned – leaders going into the final day, but finishing third and empty-handed.