Several Latvian footballers were in action across Europe on Sunday, with Andrejs Cigaņiks making his first start of the Swiss Super League season as Luzern were denied victory by a stoppage-time penalty against St. Gallen. Latvian player clubs also featured in Ireland, Norway, Scotland and the Czech Republic.
The 29-year-old Cigaņiks had come off the bench in Luzern’s opening two league matches, both defeats against newly promoted Thun (1-3) and Sion (0-3). On Sunday, the Latvian international was handed his first start of the campaign.
Luzern fell behind just before half-time, but responded immediately after the restart to level the score. The visitors looked to have secured all three points when Matteo Di Giusto found the net in the 89th minute.
However, deep into stoppage time St. Gallen were awarded a penalty, which they converted in the 101st minute to snatch a dramatic 2-2 draw. Cigaņiks played the full 90 minutes plus stoppage time and received a yellow card in the 61st minute.
In the League of Ireland Premier Division, Latvia U-21 attacking midfielder Markuss Strods came off the bench in the 80th minute as Bohemians suffered a 1-3 away defeat to Waterford.
The hosts effectively decided the contest by scoring all three of their goals in the first half, while Bohemians managed only a consolation goal in the 71st minute before Strods entered the match.
The 19-year-old has now made 17 senior league appearances during his first full season with Bohemians, contributing two goals and four assists. His side remain third in the standings with 44 points from 27 matches, three behind second-placed St Patrick’s Athletic and ten adrift of leaders Shamrock Rovers.
Bohemians now turn their attention to Europe, travelling to Denmark on Thursday for the second leg of their UEFA Conference League third qualifying round tie against Midtjylland after losing the first leg in Dublin 2-0.
In Norway’s second tier, Lūkass Vapne completed the full match as Sogndal fell to a 0-2 home defeat against Bryne.
The 22-year-old Latvian, who had registered an assist in each of his previous two matches, has now made 17 league appearances this season, recording two goals and two assists.
Sogndal, who targeted promotion to the Eliteserien before the season, currently sit 11th in the 16-team table with 18 points from 17 matches, nine points behind sixth-placed Hodd, who occupy the final promotion play-off position.
Elsewhere, Deniss Meļņiks remained an unused substitute for Falkirk as the Scottish Premiership newcomers played out a goalless draw away to Motherwell.
In the Czech First League, striker Marko Regža was an unused substitute for the third consecutive match as Hradec Kralovr defeated Banik Ostrava 2-1 away from home. Regža has featured only once in the league so far this season, coming on late during Hradec’s opening-round victory.
