The draw for the Latvian Cup Round of 16 was held today at the Latvian Football Federation (LFF), setting up several intriguing matchups, including a historic first encounter between JFK Ventspils and Liepฤja.
JFK Ventspils are a phoenix club of the legendary FK Ventspils, who used to play a tense and hotly contested Kurzeme Derby against FK Liepฤja. Currently third in the second tier, JFK Ventspils will face a tough test against a rejuvenated FK Liepฤja side under Andreas Alm, which is showing commendable form in the Virslฤซga.
At least one Nฤkotnes lฤซga (second tier) club will reach the quarterfinals as Riga Mariners drew AFA Olaine. For Riga Mariners, this was likely the best possible draw as the struggling Olaine only managed five points from ten matches this season. The Mariners, on the other hand, advanced to this round after a thrilling 4โ3 extra-time win over Valmiera FC (now in third tier). In that match, Aฤผฤฃirdas Graลพis scored twiceโbringing his total to 10 goals in his last six appearances.
Olaine, meanwhile, secured their spot in the Round of 16 with a 5โ3 victory over lower-tier Pฤผaviลas, a club from the fourth division.
JDFS Alberts, currently leading the Nฤkotnes lฤซga, will face last yearโs second tier champions SK Super Nova. Last season, the two sides met twice, with Super Nova winning both encounters 2โ0 and 1โ0, respectively. Now back in the Virslฤซga, Super Nova has shown resilience, collecting 17 points from 19 matches and playing disciplined, methodical football.
Also joining the lineup is SC Mฤrupe, a team from the upper half of the Nฤkotnes lฤซga standings. After crashing out of last yearโs competition in a 1โ4 loss to Auda, they will face FK Metta this year in what will be a โgreen-white derbyโ, owing to both clubs wearing almost identical colours. To reach this stage, Mฤrupe defeated lower-division teams ฤถekava/Auda (FK Audaโs academy squad) and Riga United, both with a convincing 3โ0 scoreline.
Full draw results:
- JDFS Alberts โ SK Super Nova
- Riga Mariners โ AFA Olaine
- Leevon PPK โ BFC Daugavpils
- FS Jelgava โ FC RFS
- Mฤrupes SC โ FK Metta
- JFK Ventspils โ FK Liepฤja
- FK Auda โ FK Grobiลa
- Riga FC โ FK Tukums 2000
The Round of 16 matches are scheduled to take place on July 12 and 13. Exact kickoff times will be announced separately.
The Latvian Cup final is set for October 30.
Since the tournamentโs inception in 1936, 39 different clubs have lifted the historic trophy. Since Latvia regained independence, 13 different teams have claimed cup glory. The current holders of the title are FC RFS.
