RFS stay perfect as Lemajic double downs Daugavpils
Photo: FC RFS/Sanita Ieva Sparāne Last season vice-champions FC RFS continued their flawless start to the Tonybet Virslīga season with a convincing 4-1 home win over BFC Daugavpils, making it three wins from three and remaining the only team yet to drop points.
Following FK Auda’s defeat to Riga FC a day earlier, RFS entered the match as the league’s last perfect side, while Daugavpils were still searching for their first points of the campaign. That contrast ultimately showed, especially in the second half.
RFS took the lead in a chaotic first-half sequence. Goalkeeper Jurijs Saveļjevs in his first start of the season made a series of impressive close-range saves, but the Daugavpils defence failed to clear their lines, allowing Cedric Kouadio to finally convert at the fourth attempt and open the scoring.
Despite limited chances for the hosts in the first half, Daugavpils struck back just before the break. A well-worked move ended with Gļebs Mihaļcovs delivering a cross into the box, where Elijah Addai finished clinically for his first goal, sending the teams into halftime level at 1-1.
Unhappy with the performance, RFS head coach Viktors Morozs made a triple substitution at the break, introducing, among others, the last season Virslīga top-scorer Darko Lemajić and handing a debut to Gauthier Mankenda. The changes proved decisive.
In the 57th minute, Jānis Ikaunieks delivered a precise cross that Lemajić converted for his first goal of the season. Just 12 minutes later, RFS extended their lead from a corner, as Herdi Prenga flicked the ball on for Stefan Panic, who scored for the second consecutive match to make it 3-1.
The game slowed in the closing stages, but RFS added a fourth late on. Mārtiņš Ķigurs broke down the left flank and found Lemajić in the box, who slid in to score his second of the match and seal a dominant 4-1 victory.
RFS head into the international break with a perfect record, while BFC Daugavpils remain without a point after three rounds.
FC RFS vs BFC Daugavpils – 4-1 (1-1)
Goals: Kouadio 19′, Lemajic 57′ 85′, Panic 69′ | Addai 45+3′
Round 33
Ogre United
FS Jelgava
Super Nova
FK Auda
Tukums 2000
# Team P
W D L
GF GA GD Pts
1
RFS33
26
5
2
81
24
57
83
2
Riga FC33
24
7
2
90
31
59
79
3
FK Auda33
19
7
7
53
34
19
64
4
FK Liepāja33
13
7
13
46
46
0
46
5
BFC Daugavpils33
12
9
12
39
37
2
45
6
Super Nova33
11
5
17
32
47
-15
38
7
FS Jelgava33
8
8
17
34
56
-22
32
8
Grobiņa33
6
11
16
25
56
-31
29
9
FK Tukums 200033
5
9
19
44
65
-21
24
10
Ogre United33
4
6
23
33
81
-48
18
