Latvia international Andrejs Cigaņiks completed his second consecutive full match as Luzern recorded their first victory of the Swiss Super League season, edging Lausanne-Sport 1-0 at home. Elsewhere, Raimonds Krollis celebrated a win in the Czech top flight, while Kristaps Grabovskis experienced late disappointment in Georgia after Dila Gori surrendered a two-goal lead.
The 29-year-old Cigaņiks was again named in Luzern’s starting line-up after coming off the bench in the club’s opening two league fixtures.
Luzern made the perfect start, scoring the only goal of the match in the third minute through Matteo Di Giusto. The early strike proved enough to secure all three points.
Cigaņiks impressed throughout the full 90 minutes, winning nine of his 13 duels while registering four interceptions, three clearances and five ball recoveries. The Latvian full-back also created one big chance for a teammate during an energetic all-round display.
It was Luzern’s first league win of the campaign, leaving them with four points from their opening four matches. They return to action next Saturday away to Servette.
In the Czech First League, Raimonds Krollis Slovan Liberec secured a 1-0 away victory over Zlin, who were once again without injured Latvian midfielder Kristers Penkevics.
The 24-year-old striker started the match and played 60 minutes before being substituted. Just four minutes later, his replacement Lukaš Mašek scored what proved to be the winning goal.
Liberec have made an excellent start to the season, collecting 10 points from five matches to sit third in the standings. Their next fixture comes in four days when they travel to lower-league side Prepere in the Czech Cup.
Meanwhile, in the Georgian top flight, Kristaps Grabovskis made his second consecutive start for Dila Gori, but his side let a two-goal advantage slip in dramatic fashion to draw 2-2 with Torpedo Kutaisi.
The Latvian attacking midfielder was once again included in the starting XI and watched his side build a comfortable lead, doubling their advantage in the 77th minute. Grabovskis was substituted five minutes later with Dila seemingly in complete control.
However, Torpedo Kutaisi mounted a remarkable late comeback, scoring twice in stoppage time to snatch a dramatic point.
The Georgian league remains extremely congested, with Dila Gori sitting seventh on 30 points after 21 matches, yet only four points separate them from second-placed Dinamo Tbilisi. Dila next face Samgurali in the Georgian Cup quarter-finals before hosting Dinamo Tbilisi in a crucial league encounter.
