Tukums 2000 rescued a dramatic 1-1 draw against Grobiņa in an important Virslīga battle between the teams sitting eighth and ninth in the table. Milan Corryn put Grobiņa ahead in the first half, but Tukums captain Bogdans Samoilovs converted a VAR-awarded penalty with virtually the final kick of the game.
Tukums started with plenty of attacking intent, with Kristaps Kļaviņš forcing Roberts Ozols into an early save. Grobiņa gradually grew into the contest and came within centimetres of opening the scoring in the 25th minute when Dāvids Drūziņš headed Corryn’s corner delivery against the post.
Only a minute later, Grobiņa did find the breakthrough with a clinical counterattack. Ivan Tyshchenko played a defence-splitting pass from inside his own half to release Corryn, who finished past the 19-year-old Alekss Kupriņš, who made his Virslīga debut, to make it 1-0. It was the 27-year-old Belgian’s fourth Virslīga goal in 12 appearances since joining Grobiņa during the summer.
Tukums responded by taking greater control as the first half progressed. Kaspars Anmanis and Maksym Derkach both threatened from distance, while Ruslans Deružinskis forced Ozols into another save shortly before the interval, but Grobiņa took their one-goal advantage into half-time.
The hosts increased the pressure after the break. Deružinskis headed wide from a Rūdolfs Meļķis cross, while Samoilovs also tried his luck from outside the penalty area. Tukums came particularly close in the 71st minute when Ozols was forced into a series of saves, first denying Anmanis before stopping Derkach from close range.
Grobiņa remained dangerous on the counterattack and had a golden opportunity to secure the victory in the 89th minute. Substitute Artjoms Puzirevskis broke through with only Kupriņš to beat but sent his effort narrowly wide, a miss that would prove costly.
Tukums threw everything forward in stoppage time. Samoilovs headed narrowly wide before Derkach produced a superb strike from outside the penalty area that looked destined for the corner, only for Ozols to respond with an equally impressive save.
The attack continued, however, and the ball struck Maksims Sidorovs’ hand inside the penalty area. Referee Kristaps Ratnieks initially allowed play to continue, but after a VAR review he awarded Tukums a penalty.
Samoilovs took responsibility and calmly sent the spot-kick into the bottom corner in the fifth minute of stoppage time, earning Tukums a dramatic 1-1 draw.
The late equaliser ensured the crucial meeting between the two sides ended with the points shared, denying Grobiņa the chance to pull further away from ninth-placed Tukums in the Virslīga survival battle.
FK Tukums 2000 vs FK Grobiņa – 1-1 (0-1)
Goals: Samoilovs 90+5′ (Penalty kick) | Corryn 26′
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  RFS |
30 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 71 | 22 | 49 | 74 |
| 2 |  Riga FC |
31 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 86 | 30 | 56 | 73 |
| 3 |  FK Auda |
31 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 49 | 30 | 19 | 61 |
| 4 |  FK Liepāja |
31 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 41 | 43 | -2 | 43 |
| 5 |  BFC Daugavpils |
31 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 39 |
| 6 |  Super Nova |
30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 29 | 40 | -11 | 35 |
| 7 |  FS Jelgava |
31 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 32 | 49 | -17 | 32 |
| 8 |  Grobiņa |
31 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 21 | 52 | -31 | 26 |
| 9 |  FK Tukums 2000 |
31 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 44 | 61 | -17 | 24 |
| 10 |  Ogre United |
31 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 30 | 76 | -46 | 18 |
