The 28th round of the Latvian Virslīga wrapped up on Sunday with a hard-fought 1-0 victory for RFS over FK Auda at Skonto Stadium. Earlier in the round, FK Liepāja, Riga FC, BFC Daugavpils, and FK Grobiņa also claimed important wins, with Grobiņa’s triumph over FS Jelgava lifting them out of last place in the league table.
The round began on Friday evening with two matches. In Jūrmala, FK Metta hosted FK Liepāja at Sloka Stadium, while in Liepāja, Grobiņa welcomed FS Jelgava to Daugava Stadium.
In Jūrmala, Liepāja started strongly. Just eight minutes in, Marin Lausic earned a penalty, surprisingly taken by defender Anto Babic. The Montenegrin’s rough season continued as he blasted the spot kick wide. Liepāja quickly recovered, though: Lausic’s shot was spilled by young goalkeeper Krists Pļaviņš, and Moustapha Diaw pounced to smash the rebound into the net.
Near the end of the first half, Nigerian midfielder Abiodun Ogunniyi doubled the advantage with one of the round’s standout goals – driving forward unchallenged and unleashing a powerful strike from outside the box into the bottom corner.
The second half saw more drama. Lausic earned another penalty, but this time Kyvon Leidsman’s attempt was saved by Pļaviņš. Metta capitalized minutes later as former Liepāja player Emīls Evelons headed in after a fine Bangura cross. Hopes of a comeback were dashed soon after when Gundars Smilškalns received a second yellow card, leaving Metta down to ten men. Despite more Liepāja chances, the match ended 2-1 in favor of the visitors.
Meanwhile in Liepāja, Grobiņa and Jelgava served up a thrilling first half. Devids Dobrecovs opened the scoring from the spot in the 29th minute, followed quickly by Aleksejs Grjaznovs’ first goal for the club. Jelgava hit back through Kingsley Emenike, but Artjoms Puzirevskis restored the two-goal cushion with his debut strike. Just before the break, Jelgava reduced the deficit again via David Holoubek’s penalty, leaving it 3-2 at halftime.
The second half saw more drama as Grobiņa goalkeeper Frenks Dāvids Orols was sent off for handling outside the area. Still, his side held firm, and in stoppage time stand-in keeper Ņikita Piņčuks pulled off a spectacular save from Jelgava’s own keeper Adam Dvořák, who had surged forward to try his luck from a free kick. Grobiņa secured their first win since June 22 – also against Jelgava – and crucially climbed off the bottom of the table.
Saturday: Riga FC bounce back, Daugavpils edge Tukums
Saturday brought two more matches. Fresh off their UEFA Conference League exit, league leaders Riga FC visited struggling SK Super Nova in a rescheduled clash. Despite criticism from both clubs over the late fixture change, Riga imposed themselves. Marko Regža struck twice in the first half, with captain Antonijs Černomordijs also on target. Super Nova’s Kristers Skadmanis, just 19, pulled one back, but Riga led 3-1 at the break.
The second half saw more goals: Emīls Birka finally paired his 10 assists with his first league goal, Anthony Contreras added another, and El Bachir Ngom – on his 87th appearance – scored his long-awaited first Virslīga goal in Riga FC shirt. Youngster Artem Marchuk grabbed his maiden professional goal for Super Nova, but the match ended 6-2. Riga remain top, while Super Nova now sit just three points above ninth-placed FK Tukums 2000.
In the evening fixture, European football hopefuls BFC Daugavpils edged Tukums 2000 thanks to a late, controversial penalty converted by academy product Jevgēņijs Miņins – his first goal of the season – securing a 1–0 win.
Sunday’s showcase: RFS vs Auda
The weekend’s marquee match came on Sunday, as champions RFS narrowly defeated Auda 1-0 at Skonto Stadium. Serbian midfielder Stefan Panić headed in Dmitrijs Zelenkovs’ cross for his seventh goal of the season. Auda nearly leveled late on when Brazilian forward Jackson Kenio- on loan from Riga – won a penalty, but goalkeeper Marko Marić denied him with a crucial save.
The result trimmed Riga’s lead at the top to three points, while also boosting Daugavpils’ hopes in the race for fourth place, as they drew level on points with Auda.
What’s Next
After the international break, the Virslīga resumes with RFS hosting FS Jelgava and Riga FC facing Auda in another blockbuster at Skonto Stadium. Elsewhere, Metta welcome SK Super Nova, Liepāja host Tukums 2000, and Daugavpils aim to extend their form against Grobiņa.
Virslīga Matchday 28 games:
- 29.08.2025 – FK Metta vs FK Liepāja – 1:2
- 29.08.2025 – FK Grobiņa vs FS Jelgava – 3:2
- 30.08.2025 – SK Super Nova vs Riga FC – 2:6
- 30.08.2025 – FK Tukums 2000 vs BFC Daugavpils – 0:1
- 31.08.2025 – FK Auda vs FC RFS – 0:1
| # | 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 |
