RFS returned to the top of the Tonybet Virslīga table after overcoming a stubborn Liepāja side 2-0 away from home, with the hosts seeing two players sent off before the defending champions finally broke through late in the second half.
The opening 45 minutes belonged largely to Liepāja, who looked the more dangerous side despite RFS enjoying more possession. Amar Haidara forced Jevgeņijs Nerugals into an early save before Ede Oloko twice came close, first heading narrowly wide and later seeing a low effort comfortably stopped by the RFS goalkeeper. Fellipe Vieira also tested Nerugals from distance as Liepāja repeatedly threatened on the counter-attack.
RFS struggled to create clear-cut chances before the interval, although Dāvis Ošs denied Darko Lemajic from a tight angle after a clever pass from Dmitrijs Zelenkovs. With both teams unable to find the breakthrough, the sides went into the break level at 0-0.
The turning point arrived eight minutes into the second half. Ismaël Diomande burst through on goal before being brought down by Dutch defender Bart Straalman just outside the penalty area. The referee immediately produced a straight red card, leaving Liepāja to play with ten men for the remaining 37 minutes.
Matters became even worse for the hosts in the 70th minute. Centre-back Iļja Korotkovs pulled back Diomande near the halfway line to stop another dangerous RFS counter-attack and received his second yellow card of the evening. Reduced to nine men, Liepāja’s resistance became increasingly difficult as RFS camped inside the home side’s half searching for the breakthrough.
However, the pressure eventually became too much. Just one minute after seeing a goal ruled out for offside, RFS captain Žiga Lipušček finally broke the deadlock in the 80th minute. After his initial header had been saved by Dāvis Ošs, the Slovenian centre-back stayed forward and brilliantly converted Stefan Panič’s delivery with a first-time volley into the bottom corner for his fifth league goal of the season.
RFS continued to press for a second and were rewarded two minutes from time. Mārtiņš Ķigurs was brought down inside the penalty area by substitute Kyvon Leidsman, giving the visitors the chance to seal all three points. Stefan Panič calmly converted the spot-kick, sending Ošs the wrong way to make it 2-0.
The victory sends RFS back to the top of the Tonybet Virslīga standings, moving three points clear of Riga FC after 20 rounds. Liepāja remain fourth following a frustrating evening in which they competed well for long periods but ultimately finished with just nine players. Liepāja new manager Vladimir Vassiljev is still looking for his first win as a Liepāja coach.
FK Liepāja vs FC RFS – 0-2 (0-0)
Goals: Lipušček 80′, Panič 90′ (penalty kick)
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  RFS |
20 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 50 | 14 | 36 | 52 |
| 2 |  Riga FC |
20 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 60 | 19 | 41 | 49 |
| 3 |  FK Auda |
20 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 23 | 13 | 39 |
| 4 |  FK Liepāja |
20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 31 | -8 | 25 |
| 5 |  BFC Daugavpils |
20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 25 | -4 | 24 |
| 6 |  FS Jelgava |
20 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 22 | 35 | -13 | 22 |
| 7 |  Super Nova |
20 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 20 | 32 | -12 | 21 |
| 8 |  FK Tukums 2000 |
20 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 35 | 39 | -4 | 17 |
| 9 |  Grobiņa |
20 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 30 | -18 | 17 |
| 10 |  Ogre United |
20 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 19 | 50 | -31 | 10 |
