Jelgava stays unbeaten at home and storms into Top Four

In a thrilling Matchday 13 clash of the Latvian Higher League, Jelgava secured a commanding 3–1 victory over Auda on their home turf, catapulting themselves into the league’s top four. Despite gloomy weather, the fans were treated to a spectacle of attacking football and dramatic moments.

The match sparked into life with the first real threat coming from Jelgava. Rihards Bečers broke through on goal after a smart through ball, finding himself one-on-one with Auda keeper Rihards Matrevics. The visiting goalkeeper, showing great awareness, rushed off his line and forced Bečers into a hurried shot that missed the target.

Auda responded just minutes later with a goal of their own. Renārs Varslavāns delivered a teasing cross from the right flank, skimming it across the face of the goal. Amid the chaos in the box, the ball evaded multiple players before finding Kemelhlo Nguena at the far post, who calmly slotted it into an empty net to open the scoring.

Jelgava found their equalizer in the 29th minute. After a long ball was floated into the box, Andriy Yuzvak pounced from close range, turning it past the keeper to make it 1–1.

The action didn’t slow down. Just four minutes later, Jelgava earned a direct free kick from a dangerous position. Kristers Aļekseičiks stepped up and struck the ball into the Auda wall. The rebound fell kindly to David Holoubek, who showed lightning reactions to tuck it into the bottom corner and give Jelgava the lead.

Early in the second half, Auda came close to leveling the score. Following a well-delivered corner, Jeudi Stevenson rose highest in the box, but Jelgava goalkeeper Adams Dvorak produced an impressive save, preserving the home side’s advantage.

Auda pressed for an equalizer as the game wore on, but their efforts were in vain. In the dying moments of regular time, disaster struck for the visitors. Jelgava launched a rapid counterattack with Yahaya Muhammad whipping a low cross into the box. In an unfortunate twist, the ball deflected off Auda defender Rafael Pontelo and into his own net, sealing a 3–1 win for the home side.

With this crucial victory, Jelgava climbs into the top four and continues to build momentum in the league. Notably, they are still the only unbeaten team at home this season in Virslīga. For Auda, it’s a disappointing result marked by missed chances and a late defensive mishap.

Thursday also saw FK Metta and FK Grobiņa share the spoils in a 1–1 draw at Hanzas Vidusskolas Stadium. The visitors struck first in the 19th minute when Maksims Sidorovs controlled a deep cross and fired home with a composed finish. Metta responded with growing pressure in the second half and were rewarded in the 68th minute when Emīls Evelons found the net following a corner—ending a three-match goal drought for the Riga-based side.

Both teams had chances to claim all three points, including shots off the post from Metta’s Sadiq Saleh and Grobiņa’s Gaučis, but in the end, they settled for a point each in a closely contested and rain-soaked affair.