Riga FC has taken a major step toward reclaiming the Virslīga title, making the most of yesterday’s slip by their rivals FC RFS. Thanks to today’s hard-fought 1-0 away victory over BFC Daugavpils, the capital club has now extended its lead over the defending champions to eight points.
From the opening whistle, Riga FC pressed forward aggressively. Renārs Varslavāns missed narrowly, and in another moment Chibinda Taty made a crucial block to save goalkeeper Jānis Beks, who had been caught out of position.
Yet the best chance of the first half actually fell to Daugavpils: in the 18th minute, after an excellent cross from Shunsuke Murakami, Valerijs Lizunovs headed wide from close range.
The breakthrough came early in the second half. Gauthier Mankenda won the ball from a Daugavpils defender and launched a quick counterattack. With a superb pass, he found Peruvian international Joao Grimaldo, one of Riga’s key men. Grimaldo skipped past goalkeeper Beks and slotted calmly into the empty net to make it 1-0.
Daugavpils responded with a powerful effort from Jevgēņijs Miņins, but his strike flew over the bar. The hosts failed to find an equalizer, while at the other end Costa Rican striker Anthony Contreras created several chances but could not increase Riga’s lead.
With this win – Riga’s second away victory in Daugavpils this season – the leaders move closer to their first championship crown since 2020. With five matches remaining, they hold an eight-point cushion over RFS and now require just seven more points to clinch the title.
Their next opportunity comes on Friday, when they host FK Liepāja at Skonto Stadium. Meanwhile, BFC Daugavpils faces a crucial showdown two days later against FK Auda in the battle for a top-four finish and a possible spot in European competition next season.
BFC Daugavpils vs Riga FC – 0:1 (0:0)
Goals: Grimaldo 53′
Virslīga Matchday 31:
- 26.09.2025 – FK Metta vs FK Grobiņa – 0:1
- 27.09.2025 – FS Jelgava vs FK Auda – 0:1
- 28.09.2025 – FK Tukums 2000 vs SK Super Nova – 2:1
- 28.09.2025 – FK Liepāja vs FC RFS – 2:2
- 29.09.2025 – BFC Daugavpils vs Riga FC – 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 |
