The top vs. bottom clash in the Latvian Virslīga went as expected, with league leaders Riga FC cruising to a comfortable 3–0 home victory over struggling Tukums 2000, marking their 10th consecutive win.
Tukums manager Kristaps Dišlers was without his suspended attacking leader Ingars Pūlis, while Niks Dusalijevs began on the bench for the first time this season, and Helvijs Joksts made just his second start.
On the other side, Iago Siqueira returned to Riga’s starting XI for the first time in nearly two months—the only change made by head coach Adrian Guľa.
Riga struck early, opening the scoring in the 8th minute when Joao Grimaldo unleashed a long-range effort that proved too much for Raivo Stūriņš. The goal was a special milestone for the Peruvian winger—currently on loan from Serbia’s Partizan Belgrade—as it was his first-ever goal in European football.
The capital side continued to dominate proceedings and nearly doubled the lead before halftime, when Meissa Diop rattled the near post with a powerful strike.
Despite Riga’s control, Tukums carved out several threatening counterattacks, primarily through forward Arturs Krancmanis. Early in the second half, he outmuscled national team defender Antonijs Černomordijs in the box but blazed his shot over from a promising position.
That miss proved costly. Moments later, Grimaldo turned provider, delivering a pinpoint cross that was nodded in from close range by Brazilian striker Reginaldo Ramires. Returning to the starting XI after a two-game absence, Ramirez bagged his ninth goal of the season, giving Riga a 2–0 cushion.
In stoppage time, the match took another turn against the visitors. Tunisian center-back Maroune Mihoubi was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Gauthier Mankenda, reducing Tukums to 10 men. From the ensuing set piece, Orlando Galo was quickest to the rebound and slammed home the third goal.
With the win, Riga FC extends their dominant streak to 10 matches, conceding just two goals in that run. Meanwhile, Tukums remain winless away from home this season and are last in the league table.
Riga FC vs FK Tukums 2000 – 3:0 (1:0)
Goals: Grimaldo 8′, Ramires 53′, Galo 90+4′
RIG: Zviedris, Jurkovskis, Musah, Černomordijs, Toņiševs, Siqueira (Galo 69′), Ankrah, Grimaldo (Ibrahim 88′), Pena (Mankenda 58′), Ramires (Regža 69′), Diop (Dašķevičs 88′).
TUK: Stūriņš, Reingolcs, Mihoubi, Semeško, Rogovs (Kholod 56′), Anmanis, Volkovs (Putrāns 63′), Joksts (Dusalijevs 46′), Samoilovs (Kačanovs 74′), Ķiršs (Sirbu 63′), Krancmanis.
Virslīga Matchday 16 games:
- 29.05.2025 – FK Auda vs FK Metta – 4:1
- 30.05.2025 – FS Jelgava vs FK Liepāja – 0:1
- 31.05.2025 – Riga FC vs FK Tukums 2000 – 3:0
- 31.05.2025 – FC RFS vs FK Grobiņa – 19:00
- 01.06.2025 – SK Super Nova vs BFC Daugavpils 15:00
| # | Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Riga FC | 16 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 39 |
| 2 | FC RFS | 16 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 37 |
| 3 | FK Auda | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 25 |
| 4 | FK Liepāja | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | -3 | 22 |
| 5 | BFC Daugavpils | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 21 |
| 6 | FS Jelgava | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
| 7 | SK Super Nova | 16 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 17 |
| 8 | FK Grobiņa | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | -16 | 16 |
| 9 | FK Metta | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | -21 | 12 |
| 10 | FK Tukums 2000 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 9 | -16 | 11 |
