In the Matchday 18 match of the Tonybet Virslīga FK Grobiņa claimed a 1-0 home win Dienvidkurzemes derby over Liepāja thanks to an early Ali Aruna strike.
The decisive moment came already in the seventh minute. After receiving the ball outside the penalty area, Aruna was given space by the Liepāja defence and punished the visitors with a superb curling effort into the far top corner, leaving stand-in goalkeeper Dāvis Ošs with no chance.
Aruna remained at the centre of the action throughout the opening stages and nearly doubled Grobiņa’s advantage twelve minutes later. After breaking through on goal, the Canadian found himself one-on-one with Ošs, but this time the Liepāja goalkeeper reacted well to keep his side within reach.
Although Liepāja enjoyed the majority of possession, Grobiņa looked dangerous on the counterattack and continually caused problems whenever they broke forward. The visitors created their first clear opportunity midway through the half when Iļja Korotkovs found space inside the box but directed his close-range effort narrowly wide of the post.
As the half progressed, Liepāja increased the pressure. Djibril Gueye tested Vjačeslavs Kudrjavcevs from inside the penalty area, while Korotkovs and Chovanie Amatkarijo both came close. However, Grobiņa’s defence held firm and carried their slender lead into the break.
The hosts almost delivered a knockout blow immediately after halftime. Artjoms Puzirevskis was twice denied from excellent positions within the opening ten minutes of the second half, first by Ošs and then by a desperate defensive intervention as Grobiņa threatened to make it 2-0.
Liepāja responded with a series of substitutions in an attempt to change the momentum. Ingars Pūlis, introduced from the bench, was heavily involved and had the visitors’ best chance of the evening in the 73rd minute. After a dangerous cross found him unmarked from close range, the striker somehow lifted his effort over the crossbar.
The visitors continued to push during the closing stages. Gueye forced Kudrjavcevs into a low save, while Pūlis again was in the center, but could not hit the target.
Liepāja threw everything forward in the final minutes, including a goalkeeper, winning several corners and free kicks around the penalty area, but Grobiņa stood firm to secure all three points and celebrate victory in the season’s second Dienvidkurzeme derby.
The win lifts Grobiņa from ninth place up to seventh in the Virslīga standings, while Liepāja remain fourth, holding a four-point advantage over fifth-placed Super Nova.
FK Grobiņa vs FK Liepāja – 1-0 (1-0)
Goal: Aruba 7′
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  RFS |
17 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 12 | 29 | 46 |
| 2 |  Riga FC |
17 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 54 | 18 | 36 | 42 |
| 3 |  FK Auda |
17 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 33 | 21 | 12 | 35 |
| 4 |  FK Liepāja |
18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 23 | 25 | -2 | 25 |
| 5 |  Super Nova |
18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 25 | -6 | 21 |
| 6 |  BFC Daugavpils |
18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 20 | 25 | -5 | 20 |
| 7 |  Grobiņa |
18 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 29 | -17 | 16 |
| 8 |  FS Jelgava |
17 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 31 | -18 | 16 |
| 9 |  FK Tukums 2000 |
17 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 30 | 31 | -1 | 14 |
| 10 |  Ogre United |
17 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 42 | -28 | 4 |
