Daugavpils climb to fourth as Nigerian duo sink Jelgava
BFC Daugavpils climbed into fourth place in the Tonybet Virslīga after defeating FS Jelgava 2-1 at home, with both goals coming from Nigerian players. Despite the defeat, Jelgava ended a goal drought that had lasted more than a month.
The hosts took the lead in the 11th minute when a long pass from Ceti Taty found 19-year-old Doukumo Ayebadiepreye, who burst through several Jelgava defenders before calmly finishing into the near corner. It was the Nigerian forward’s first Virslīga goal after finishing the first half of the season as the top scorer in the Latvian third tier while playing for Daugavpils’ reserve team.
Daugavpils doubled their advantage early in the second half through Joel Yakubu, whose low strike from the edge of the penalty area found the bottom corner to make it 2-0.
Jelgava responded just a few minutes later. After Jānis Beks initially made a save in a crowded penalty area, Roberts Meļķis reacted quickest to the loose ball and converted from close range to reduce the deficit. The goal ended Jelgava’s 422-minute scoring drought across all competitions, with their previous goal having come in a 2-0 league victory over Grobiņa on 29 June.
The visitors were unable to find an equaliser, allowing Daugavpils to secure all three points.
The victory lifts Daugavpils to fourth place with 33 points, moving ahead of FK Liepāja, who have 31 points but also two games in hand. Jelgava, meanwhile, suffered a fourth consecutive Virslīga defeat and remain seventh with 25 points after 25 matches.
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  RFS |
30 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 71 | 22 | 49 | 74 |
| 2 |  Riga FC |
31 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 86 | 30 | 56 | 73 |
| 3 |  FK Auda |
31 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 49 | 30 | 19 | 61 |
| 4 |  FK Liepāja |
31 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 41 | 43 | -2 | 43 |
| 5 |  BFC Daugavpils |
31 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 39 |
| 6 |  Super Nova |
30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 29 | 40 | -11 | 35 |
| 7 |  FS Jelgava |
31 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 32 | 49 | -17 | 32 |
| 8 |  Grobiņa |
31 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 21 | 52 | -31 | 26 |
| 9 |  FK Tukums 2000 |
31 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 44 | 61 | -17 | 24 |
| 10 |  Ogre United |
31 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 30 | 76 | -46 | 18 |
