Gueye scores late goal to give Liepāja a win in the derby

The 30th round of the Latvian Virslīga delivered drama in the Liepāja derby, where FK Liepāja snatched a last-minute 1-0 victory over FK Grobiņa thanks to a stoppage-time strike from Djibril Gueye.

For Grobiņa, who remain bottom of the table and desperately in need of points, this fixture carried special weight. Their only win against FK Liepāja this season came earlier in the campaign, while the other two meetings had gone to their city rivals.

The match at Daugava Stadium began sluggishly, with the poor pitch conditions preventing either side from producing their best football. The biggest blow of the first half came in the 22nd minute when FK Liepāja’s attacking leader Bruno Melnis was forced off after a collision with Devids Dobrecovs left him clutching his ankle. The Latvian international’s night was over, forcing head coach Andreas Alm to turn to Kyvon Leidsman. Due to the domestic player quota rules, Kirils Iļjins was also introduced.

Chances were scarce in the first half, with Liepāja unable to carve out any real opportunities, while Grobiņa had only a few half-chances. The second half finally saw the first shot on target in the 51st minute, but Liepāja’s goalkeeper Danijel Petković stood firm to deny Grobiņa. The game remained scrappy, riddled with mistakes and technical errors, while the physical intensity grew, keeping the referee heavily involved.

Although Grobiņa looked the more likely side to score in the latter stages, it was Liepāja who struck at the death. In stoppage time, Leidsman held up the ball brilliantly inside the box before unleashing a shot. Goalkeeper Frenks Orols managed to parry, but the rebound fell kindly for Djibril Gueye, who calmly slotted home the decisive goal.

The final whistle sparked heated emotions, with both teams engaging in shoving and minor altercations after the match, but the scoreline remained unchanged. FK Liepāja celebrated their third derby win of the season, strengthening their grip on third place in the league. Meanwhile, Grobiņa’s heartbreak deepened as they remain one point adrift of ninth-placed FK Metta – the very side they face next in what could be the most crucial game of their season.

FK Grobiņa vs FK Liepāja – 0:1 (0:0)
Goals: Gueye 90+1′

Virslīga Matchday 30:

• 20.09.2025 – FK Tukums 2000 vs FK Metta – 3:2
• 21.09.2025 – FS Jelgava vs Riga FC – 2:3
• 21.09.2025 – FK Grobiņa vs FK Liepāja – 0:1
• 21.09.2025 – FC RFS vs BFC Daugavpils – 18:00
• 22.09.2025 – FK Auda vs SK Super Nova – 18:00