FK Tukums 2000 ended a six-match Tonybet Virslīga losing streak on Sunday with a 2-1 home victory over FK Liepāja, as striker Ruslans Deružinskis scored both goals to hand the hosts a crucial three points.
Tukums entered the match without a league win since 17 June, while Liepāja were returning from their UEFA Conference League elimination on Thursday, where they lost 1-3 to Austria Wien. Defender Marvin Martins, who was sent off in Vienna, returned straight to the starting lineup, while goalkeeper Dāvis Ošs was back between the posts.
After an even opening, Liepāja believed they had taken the lead when Joseph Ede Oloko raced through on goal and found the net, but VAR ruled the strike out for a marginal offside.
The hosts made the most of the reprieve in the 25th minute. Following a failed Liepāja clearance, Leoni delivered a low cross into the box where Ruslans Deružinskis finished first time to score his eighth Virslīga goal of the season.
Liepāja responded before the break through their leading scorer. Danila Patijčuks produced an excellent cross from the left, allowing Oloko to convert against his former club and level the score with his 19th league goal of the campaign.
The visitors started the second half strongly and came closest to taking the lead when Abioudun Ogunniyi rattled the post with a powerful long-range effort. Instead, Tukums struck again in the 72nd minute as Leoni registered his second assist of the afternoon, this time crossing for Deružinskis, who headed home to restore the lead.
The brace took Deružinskis to nine league goals, making him the highest-scoring Latvian player in this season’s Virslīga, moving ahead of SK Super Nova’s Valerijs Lizunovs, who has eight.
Liepāja pushed for another equaliser during the closing stages with a series of corners and long-range efforts, but Tukums defended resolutely to hold on for their first league victory in six matches.
Despite the win, Tukums remain ninth in the standings with 20 points from 25 matches, extending their cushion over bottom side Ogre United to six points. Liepāja stay fifth on 31 points, two behind fourth-placed BFC Daugavpils, while still holding a game in hand.
Tukums return to action next Saturday away to Daugavpils, while Liepāja travel to face SK Super Nova the following day.
FK Tukums 2000 vs FK Liepāja – 2-1 (1-1)
Goals: Deružinskis 25′ 72′ | Oloko 42′
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  RFS |
24 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 56 | 16 | 40 | 62 |
| 2 |  Riga FC |
24 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 72 | 20 | 52 | 61 |
| 3 |  FK Auda |
23 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 38 | 26 | 12 | 43 |
| 4 |  BFC Daugavpils |
25 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 33 |
| 5 |  FK Liepāja |
24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 31 | 36 | -5 | 31 |
| 6 |  Super Nova |
23 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 25 | 35 | -10 | 27 |
| 7 |  FS Jelgava |
25 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 25 | 43 | -18 | 25 |
| 8 |  Grobiņa |
25 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 41 | -24 | 21 |
| 9 |  FK Tukums 2000 |
25 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 40 | 49 | -9 | 20 |
| 10 |  Ogre United |
24 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 23 | 61 | -38 | 14 |
