The first Rīga derby of the Tonybet Virslīga season delivered everything – goals, drama, and momentum swings – as Riga FC came from behind twice to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw against league leaders FC RFS at LNK Sporta parks.
Heading into the match, Riga faced a significant tactical dilemma at left-back due to injuries to Andrés Salazar and Emīls Birka. The solution was to deploy Brazilian centre-back Paulo Eduardo out of position – a weakness that RFS quickly identified and exploited.
The hosts dominated the opening stages, relentlessly attacking down that flank. Their pressure paid off in the 13th minute when Aleksandar Filipović’s cross caused confusion in the Riga defense, allowing Jānis Ikaunieks to collect the loose ball and calmly finish from close range.
Just three minutes later, RFS struck again in similar fashion. Another attack from the right ended with Ikaunieks’ effort taking a deflection off Ismael Diomande, wrong-footing goalkeeper Krišjānis Zviedris and doubling the lead to 2-0.
RFS looked in complete control and nearly added a third when Žiga Lipušček rattled the post from distance. Riga, however, gradually grew into the game and found a lifeline in the 38th minute. After an initial effort from Orlando Galo was saved, the rebound fell kindly to Renārs Varslavāns, who fired home against his former club to make it 2-1.
The second half maintained the same intensity. Riga found their equalizer in the 63rd minute through a well-worked attacking move – Iago Siqueira’s precise cross was kept alive by Reginaldo Ramires and finished from close range by Mohamed Badamosi.
Yet parity lasted only briefly. RFS responded almost immediately with one of the goals of the season, as Dmitrijs Zelenkovs unleashed a stunning strike from outside the box into the top corner, leaving Zviedris with no chance despite getting a hand to the ball.
With the game seemingly slipping away, Riga pushed forward once more to avoid falling further behind in the title race. Their persistence paid off in the 87th minute when substitute Caio produced a composed finish from distance, placing the ball into the corner beyond Marko Marić to level the score at 3-3.
The final whistle confirmed a share of the points in a derby that lived up to its billing. RFS remain at the top of the table after nine rounds, holding a two-point advantage over second-placed Riga FC.
FC RFS vs Riga FC – 3-3 (2-1)
Goals: Ikaunieks 13′ Diomande 16′ Zelenkovs 65′ | Varslavāns 38′, Badamosi 63′, Caio 87′
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  RFS |
9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 22 |
| 2 |  Riga FC |
9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 32 | 12 | 20 | 20 |
| 3 |  FK Auda |
9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 19 |
| 4 |  BFC Daugavpils |
9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 13 |
| 5 |  Super Nova |
9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 13 |
| 6 |  FK Liepāja |
9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 12 |
| 7 |  Grobiņa |
9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 9 |
| 8 |  FS Jelgava |
9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 17 | -10 | 8 |
| 9 |  FK Tukums 2000 |
9 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 16 | -4 | 5 |
| 10 |  Ogre United |
9 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 15 | -10 | 3 |
