In the 23rd round of the TonyBet Virslīga, FS Jelgava finally ended a dismal four-match losing streak and a 401-minute goal drought, edging out SK Super Nova with a hard-fought 1–0 home victory.
Heading into this match, Jelgava was desperate for a turnaround, having failed to find the net in their last four league games. In contrast, visitors SK Super Nova arrived with renewed confidence after a crucial 1–0 win over FK Tukums 2000.
Jelgava head coach Aleksandrs Basovs showed faith in his players, sticking with the same starting XI that lost 0–2 to FK Auda. Super Nova made a few adjustments to their lineup, the most notable being the debut of 15-year-old sensation Georgijs Bombāns. The young striker, widely regarded as one of Latvia’s top U17 prospects and the leading scorer in the country’s third-tier league, was handed his first-ever start in the Virslīga — just weeks before his 16th birthday.
From the opening whistle, both teams were unafraid to play open football, but it was Jelgava who looked more dangerous going forward. Their attacking intent paid off early when, in the 13th minute, Czech player Ondřej Ullman unleashed a spectacular long-range strike to open the scoring — his first goal of the season.
Jelgava dominated the remainder of the half, creating chance after chance. However, shots from Marek Polášek, Ruslans Deružinskis, and Filip Hašek were either denied by Super Nova goalkeeper Dāvis Viljams Veisbuks or missed the target altogether.
Despite their dominance, Jelgava had to settle for a 1–0 lead at the break, while Super Nova could count themselves lucky to still be in the game.
Early in the second half, Super Nova finally showed signs of life. A defensive error by Jelgava allowed the teenage debutant Bombāns to pounce on the ball. He surged into the box, cut to his right, and created space for a shot — only to have his effort blocked at the last moment.
Still, Jelgava continued to control possession and kept the visitors pinned back in their own half. Super Nova struggled to build attacks, often losing the ball around midfield, giving the home side repeated opportunities to threaten.
Goalkeeper Veisbuks was undoubtedly Super Nova’s standout performer, producing a string of crucial saves in the second half to keep the deficit to a single goal and give his side a fighting chance.
As tensions rose near the end of the match, some minor scuffles broke out between players, but the scoreline remained unchanged. FS Jelgava claimed their seventh win of the season and finally snapped their losing streak.
With this result, Jelgava climbed to 27 points, pulling six points clear of Super Nova, who remain in seventh place.
FS Jelgava vs SK Super Nova – 1:0 (1:0)
Goals: Ullman 13′
JEL: Dvorak, Ullman, Penkevics, Aļekseičiks, Yuzvak, Muhammad (Žaleiko 83′), Polasek, Holoubek (Emenike 90+4′), M.Hasek, F.Hasek (Boroduška 83′), Deružinskis (Bečers 65′)
SUP: Veisbuks, Zenģis (Emsis 71′), Augusts, Deklavs, Vējkrīgers, Tihonovičs, Maslovs, Čudars, Bombāns (Skadmanis 71′), Dione (Sprukts 71′), Glaudāns
Virslīga Matchday 23 games:
- 19.07.2025 – FK Liepāja vs Riga FC – 2:3
- 19.06.2025 – FK Metta vs FC RFS – 0:4
- 20.07.2025 – FK Auda vs BFC Daugavpils – 1:3
- 20.07.2025 – FS Jelgava vs SK Super Nova – 1:0
- 21.07.2025 – FK Tukums 2000 vs FK Grobiņa – 18:00
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Riga FC | 36 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 59 | 88 |
| 2 | FC RFS | 36 | 28 | 3 | 5 | 61 | 87 |
| 3 | FK Liepāja | 36 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 61 |
| 4 | BFC Daugavpils | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | -10 | 48 |
| 5 | FK Auda | 36 | 13 | 6 | 17 | -5 | 45 |
| 6 | FS Jelgava | 36 | 8 | 14 | 14 | -7 | 38 |
| 7 | FK Tukums 2000 | 36 | 9 | 9 | 18 | -24 | 36 |
| 8 | SK Super Nova | 36 | 6 | 14 | 16 | -12 | 32 |
| 9 | FK Grobiņa | 36 | 8 | 8 | 20 | -31 | 32 |
| 10 | FK Metta | 36 | 8 | 7 | 21 | -35 | 31 |
