In today’s Matchday 6 of the Optibet Virslīga, FK Auda spoiled the debut of FK Liepāja’s new manager, Jānis Goba, with a 3:0 victory. Meanwhile, reigning champions FC RFS returned to winning form by defeating FK Tukums 2000, 2:0.
Just days prior, FK Liepāja had dismissed manager Dino Skender and appointed Goba as his replacement. The 37-year-old specialist was a former SK Skanste manager and Skender’s assistant at the start of the season. Goba had only two training sessions with the team before this game and decided to make one change to the starting lineup following their 2:5 loss to Riga FC. Dutch forward Kyvon Leidsman made his first start of the season, while Swiss forward Tresor Samba was on the bench for the first time.
For FK Auda, manager Jurģis Kalns received positive news with Renārs Varslavāns returning to the starting lineup. Varslavāns had been sidelined with an injury sustained against Super Nova, but after three weeks of recovery, he was ready to play.
Despite windy conditions, Liepāja started strong by playing great football and creating several good chances. Dodo’s shot from a sharp angle and Bruno Melnis’s header were the best opportunities in the first half for Liepāja, but Rihards Matrevics who was back in goal after a one-game absence, kept the score level. However, if Liepāja failed to capitalize on their chances, Auda seized theirs. Just before halftime, Emīls Birka delivered a cross that Jeudi Stevenson headed in for his first goal of the season.
The second half continued the trend for Liepāja to struggle in the second half. A poor start to the half led to two more goals for Auda, putting Liepāja three goals down. First, Renārs Varslavāns, in his comeback match, showcased individual brilliance with a shot from the edge of the box that found the bottom right corner, beating the goalkeeper. Shortly after, Bolivian Enzo Monteiro scored his second goal of the season; an initial shot from an Auda player was blocked, but Monteiro reacted fastest to score.
With this loss, Liepāja now faces their third consecutive defeat, while FK Auda has won three of their last four matches. Auda’s next match will be away against FK Metta on Sunday, who are currently in strong form, while FK Liepāja will host FS Jelgava the following day.
FK Auda vs FK Liepāja – 3:0 (1:0)
Goals: Stevenson 45+4′, Varslavāns 49′, Monteiro 53′
Yellow Card: Wassom 3′, Ogunniyi 70′ | Gueye 45+2′, Korobenko 57′
AUD: Matrevics – Novikovs (Ogunji 87′), Wassom, Pontelo, Birka – Kragliks (Clemente 76′) – Varslavāns (Kane 64′), Ogunniyi, Jeudi (Rubenis 87′), Nguena – Monteiro (Traore 64′)
LIE: Petkovic – Sorokins (Purtic 59′), Vientiess, Babic, Iļjins – Dodo (Meļķis 73′), Lausic, Korobenko, Gueye (Domjanic 54′) – Melnis, Leidsmann (Samba 46′)
In the other match of the day, FC RFS secured a 2:0 victory over FK Tukums 2000, scoring two goals in the first half. RFS had just suffered their first defeat of the season against FK Metta, while FK Tukums 2000 had celebrated their first win of the season after beating FK Grobiņa 2:0.
The opening goal of today’s match came in the 28th minute, when Cedric Kouadio found Jeremie Porsan-Clemente in the middle of the box. Porsan-Clemente’s shot deflected off a Tukums defender attempting to block it, resulting in the goal. This marked the former Valmiera FC captain’s first goal for his new club.
Just before halftime, Lasha Odisharia earned a penalty when he tried to get past Kristers Volkovs, who handled the ball. The referee made an easy decision to award the penalty, which was comfortably converted by Stefan Panic, bringing the score to 2:0.
In the second half, RFS maintained control of the match, securing three points and establishing a five-point lead over their nearest rivals, FK Metta and FK Auda, both of whom have ten points following Matchday 6.
FC RFS vs FK Tukums 2000 – 2:0 (2:0)
Goals: Clemente 28′, Panic 45 (Penalty kick)
Yellow Card: Panic 36′, Savaļnieks 73′ | Reingolcs 3′
RFS: Ondoa – Savaļnieks, Sliede, Lipušček, Zelenkovs – Panic, Kouadio – Talla, Ikaunieks, Clemente (Mareš 57′) – Koaudio
TUK: Stūriņš – Rogovs, Reingolcs, Mihoubi, Valmiers (Kholod 67′) – Anmanis (Joksts 78′) – Volkovs (Ķiršs 46′), Samoilovs, Krieviņš, Dusalijevs (Krancmanis 78′) – Pūlis (Bekili 78′)
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | FC RFS | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 15 |
| 2 | FK Auda | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 13 |
| 3 | Riga FC | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 12 |
| 4 | FK Liepāja | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | -1 | 10 |
| 5 | FK Metta | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | -5 | 10 |
| 6 | BFC Daugavpils | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| 7 | FS Jelgava | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| 8 | SK Super Nova | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 9 | FK Grobiņa | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -6 | 5 |
| 10 | FK Tukums 2000 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -7 | 5 |