Four different goalscorers for Jelgava in a win against struggling Tukums

The match could hardly have started worse for the hosts. Jelgava took the lead after just 54 seconds, when Filip Hašek received the ball inside the penalty area and played it across from the left towards the six-yard box, where Tomaš Rataj turned it into the net to make it 1-0.

Moments later, it looked as though Jelgava would have the chance to double their lead from the penalty spot after Armands Pētersons’ shot was blocked by Dāvis Mārcis Valmiers. The referee initially pointed to the spot for handball, but after a VAR review the decision was overturned.

Tukums found their equaliser in the 26th minute. Valmiers did well on the left flank, beating his marker before picking out Leoni Gastaldelo near the edge of the penalty area. The Brazilian arrived onto the pass and curled a superb left-footed finish into the top right corner, scoring his sixth goal of the season to make it 1-1.

Jelgava finished the first half strongly and pushed for a second goal before the break, but Sergejs Vilkovs produced several important saves to keep Tukums level at half-time.

The visitors did not have to wait long after the restart to regain the lead. In the 47th minute, Martin Hašek’s attempted shot turned into a perfect pass for Pētersons, who ghosted in behind the defence and redirected the ball into the net to make it 2-1.

Jelgava extended their advantage in the 62nd minute from a corner. Maksims Semeško headed the ball back across goal, where Roberts Meļķis was waiting to nod it in from close range.

Any remaining hope for Tukums disappeared in the 75th minute. Gļebs Žaleiko found Filip Hašek running into the penalty area, and the Czech midfielder finished calmly from a tight angle to make it a dominant 4-1 for Jelgava.

The home side’s difficult evening was made worse late on when defender Rūdolfs Reingolcs received his second yellow card, forcing Tukums to finish the match with ten men.

For Jelgava, the victory marks their first run of two consecutive league wins since the end of June. Tukums, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with only one win in their last ten Virslīga matches as the teams above them begin to pull away.

Jelgava will look to continue their winning run next Saturday at home against Super Nova, while Tukums face a crucial match on the same day, hosting bottom-placed Ogre United in a game that could have major importance in the battle near the bottom of the table.

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	RFS	31	24	5	2	75	24	51	77
2	Riga FC	32	23	7	2	88	30	58	76
3	FK Auda	32	19	7	6	52	32	20	64
4	FK Liepāja	32	12	7	13	43	46	-3	43
5	BFC Daugavpils	32	11	9	12	37	36	1	42
6	Super Nova	31	11	5	15	31	41	-10	38
7	FS Jelgava	32	8	8	16	34	53	-19	32
8	Grobiņa	32	5	11	16	22	54	-32	26
9	FK Tukums 2000	32	5	9	18	44	63	-19	24
10	Ogre United	32	4	6	22	31	78	-47	18