Auda hold on with ten men to beat Super Nova
Photo: Kristians Putniņš FK Auda showed resilience in the final match of Tonybet Virslīga Matchday 1, defeating SK Super Nova 2-1 despite playing more than 50 minutes with ten men. Eighteen-year-old Panamanian winger Josué Vergara played a decisive role, scoring one goal and providing an assist.
Both teams created chances during the first half. Super Nova had a major opportunity when Facundo Garcia, on loan from RFS, failed to hit the target after goalkeeper Nils Toms Puriņš had come off his line. At the other end, Auda head coach Didier Zanetti, who took charge late last season and guided the club to a Latvian Cup victory over Riga FC, was searching for his first Virslīga league win.
The match changed dramatically in the 40th minute when Auda defender Moussa Ouedraogo received his second yellow card and was sent off, leaving the visitors to play the remainder of the match with ten players.
It looked as though the first half would end goalless, but deep in stoppage time the referee awarded Auda a penalty. Despite protests from Super Nova players, the decision stood – with no VAR in use during the opening rounds – and Vergara stepped up to convert the spot kick, giving Auda a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Super Nova struggled to take advantage of their numerical superiority in the second half and instead conceded again. Vergara delivered a precise pass to Hussaini Ibrahim, the Nigerian midfielder formerly of Riga FC, who scored his first Virslīga goal to make it 2-0.
Super Nova pushed forward late in the match, even sending centre-back Mārcis Ošs into attacking positions. The move paid off in the 90th minute, when Ošs received the ball near goal and finished acrobatically past Puriņš to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Despite late pressure, Super Nova could not find an equaliser and Auda held on for an important opening victory.
In the second round, Auda will travel to face FK Grobiņa in Liepāja, while Super Nova host FS Jelgava at LNK Sporta Parks.
FK Auda vs SK Super Nova – 2-1 (1-0)
Goals: Vergara 45+5′ (Penalty kick), Ibrahim 56′ | Ošs 90′
# Team P
W D L
GF GA GD Pts
1
RFS33
26
5
2
81
24
57
83
2
Riga FC33
24
7
2
90
31
59
79
3
FK Auda33
19
7
7
53
34
19
64
4
FK Liepāja33
13
7
13
46
46
0
46
5
BFC Daugavpils33
12
9
12
39
37
2
45
6
Super Nova33
11
5
17
32
47
-15
38
7
FS Jelgava33
8
8
17
34
56
-22
32
8
Grobiņa33
6
11
16
25
56
-31
29
9
FK Tukums 200033
5
9
19
44
65
-21
24
10
Ogre United33
4
6
23
33
81
-48
18
Round 33
Ogre UnitedFS JelgavaSuper NovaFK AudaTukums 2000
