Tonybet Virslīga Round 21 saw RFS claim a comfortable 3-1 home victory over BFC Daugavpils, with Latvia international goalkeeper Rihards Matrevics making his debut after returning to the country following a spell with Czech side Dukla Prague.
Daugavpils arrived in Rīga full of confidence after frustrating defending champions Riga FC in a goalless draw just five days earlier, and they made the brighter start once again.
Matrevics was called into action as early as the fifth minute, doing well to protect his near post from Joel Yakubu’s powerful strike from a tight angle. Moments later the visitors threatened again when debutant Doukumo Ayebadiepreye rose highest to meet a cross, but his header flew narrowly wide. The tall Nigerian striker has enjoyed an excellent season for Daugavpils’ reserve side in Latvia’s lower divisions and was making his first-team debut.
Despite the visitors’ promising opening, RFS struck first in the 21st minute. Rostand Ndjiki, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Daugavpils, laid the ball into the path of Dmitrijs Zelenkovs. The Latvian winger produced an excellent piece of skill to wrong-foot his defender before firing a precise left-footed finish into the corner to make it 1-0.
Daugavpils responded well and thought they had equalised before the break. Ouled-Haj M’hand’s powerful long-range effort was pushed away by Matrevics, who then somehow denied Ayebadiepreye from point-blank range on the rebound. The loose ball eventually fell to Ervīns Piņaskins, who found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside as Ayebadiepreye had been in an offside position when the initial shot was taken.
RFS doubled their advantage shortly after the restart. Following a set-piece delivery, Žiga Lipušček flicked a header across goal and the ball struck Papa Gningue before ending up in the back of the net, with the Daugavpils defender credited with an unfortunate own goal.
Only a few minutes later, another RFS set piece produced a third goal. This time Zelenkovs’ delivery found Lipušček, who powered home a header to extend the lead to 3-0.
Daugavpils continued searching for a consolation goal, with Joel Yakubu remaining their main attacking threat throughout the second half. Their reward finally arrived in bizarre fashion late in the game. Strahinja Rakic played a routine back pass towards Matrevics, but the bouncing ball escaped the goalkeeper’s control and rolled towards his own goal. Although the Latvian international desperately attempted to recover, he was unable to prevent the ball from crossing the line, turning what had been an excellent debut into an unfortunate finish.
The late mishap did little to affect the outcome, however, as RFS secured their third consecutive league victory. The win moves the reigning champions back to the top of the Virslīga table, three points clear of their closest challengers Riga FC.
FC RFS vs BFC Daugavpils – 3-1 (1-0)
Goals: Zelenkovs 21′, Gningue 54′ (Own goal), Lipušček 62′ | Matrevics 84′ (Own goal)
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  RFS |
21 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 53 | 15 | 38 | 55 |
| 2 |  Riga FC |
21 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 62 | 19 | 43 | 52 |
| 3 |  FK Auda |
21 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 36 | 25 | 11 | 39 |
| 4 |  FK Liepāja |
21 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 27 | 31 | -4 | 28 |
| 5 |  FS Jelgava |
21 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 35 | -11 | 25 |
| 6 |  BFC Daugavpils |
21 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 22 | 28 | -6 | 24 |
| 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 |
21 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 32 | -20 | 17 |
| 10 |  Ogre United |
21 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 54 | -35 | 10 |
