Dašķevičs delivers as Auda seal third place with six games to spare

FK Auda secured third place in the Virslīga with six rounds still remaining after Eduards Dašķevičs’ early goal earned them a 1-0 victory over Ogre United in their rearranged Round 25 fixture.

Auda took control from the opening minutes and created several opportunities before finding the breakthrough in the 12th minute. Barthelemy Diedhiou made an excellent run down the left before delivering into the penalty area, where Dašķevičs controlled the ball and finished into the bottom corner to give the hosts a deserved 1-0 lead.

Auda side remained firmly on top throughout the first half. Nikita Parfjonovs was kept busy in the Ogre goal, denying Wally Fofana and Diedhiou, while Dašķevičs also sent an effort narrowly over the crossbar. At the other end, Ogre struggled to create anything meaningful as Auda went into the break with their one-goal advantage.

Auda came within centimetres of doubling their lead immediately after the restart. Dašķevičs delivered from the right for Diedhiou, whose close-range effort struck the post in the 48th minute. Ogre then suffered another setback when Markuss Kalniņš was forced off through injury.

However, the visitors gradually grew into the match and began creating chances of their own. Leif Estevez Fernandez had a major opportunity on the hour mark, forcing Nils Toms Puriņš into a save before threatening twice more shortly afterwards. Tomass Mickevičs then tested Puriņš from the right side of the penalty area as Ogre continued to increase the pressure.

Another excellent opportunity for Ogre arrived in the 73rd minute. Following a corner, Rendijs Šibass headed the ball back across goal and Mickevičs met it from close range, only to see his header crash against the crossbar. The visitors also managed to put the ball into the net later in the second half, but the goal was ruled out for an attacking foul.

Auda had opportunities to put the contest beyond doubt, with Edvin Bongemba forcing another save from Parfjonovs and substitutes Andrews Appiah and Jevgenijs Miņins threatening late on. The second goal never arrived, but one proved enough as Auda held on for a 1-0 victory.

The result mathematically guarantees Auda at least third place in the Virslīga with six rounds remaining in the season. For Ogre United, the defeat leaves them eight points away from ninth place and the relegation play-off position.

FK Auda vs Ogre United – 1-0 (1-0)
Goal: Dašķevičs 12′

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	RFS	34	27	5	2	84	24	60	86
2	Riga FC	34	25	7	2	95	33	62	82
3	FK Auda	34	20	7	7	57	35	22	67
4	BFC Daugavpils	34	13	9	12	40	37	3	48
5	FK Liepāja	34	13	8	13	46	46	0	47
6	Super Nova	34	11	5	18	32	50	-18	38
7	FS Jelgava	34	8	8	18	34	57	-23	32
8	Grobiņa	34	6	11	17	27	61	-34	29
9	FK Tukums 2000	34	5	10	19	44	65	-21	25
10	Ogre United	34	4	6	24	34	85	-51	18