SK Super Nova came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against FS Jelgava in the first Saturday match of the second round of the Virslīga season, with Japanese defender Rikuto Iida scoring a late equaliser to earn his side a point.
The hosts started the match energetically and registered their first attempt on goal after just a few seconds from the opening whistle, though the early effort failed to trouble the Jelgava defense.
Super Nova continued to look lively in the opening stages, and in the 21st minute Jelgava goalkeeper Adam Dvorak was forced into action for the first time. After a teammate’s poor touch inside the penalty area, Bamba nearly found himself in a shooting position, but Dvorak reacted quickly to clear the danger.
Despite the early pressure from the home side, it was Jelgava who opened the scoring. After a low attempt from a cross by Czech newcomer Tomáš Rataj was saved, defender Gļebs Kačanovs reacted fastest to the rebound and fired the ball into the net to make it 1-0. The goal marked the defender’s first in the Virslīga.
Jelgava looked encouraged after taking the lead and continued pushing forward. Less than a minute later Kačanovs found himself in another promising position inside the penalty area, though his second effort was less accurate. Shortly afterwards Artūrs Janovskis also had a chance to extend the lead, but his shot failed to find the target.
Super Nova began the second half aggressively, with Facundo Garcia nearly equalising from a free kick, curling the ball dangerously toward goal. On the other end Jelgava had a golden chance to double their advantage in the 74th minute when Rataj slipped into the penalty area, but the Czech forward struck the ball too powerfully and sent it well over the crossbar.
As the match approached its conclusion, it seemed Jelgava would hold on for victory. However, Rikuto Iida had other plans. In the 82nd minute, an attacking move initiated by Facundo Garcia, who is on loan from RFS, eventually led to Lizunovs delivering a precise cross into the box. Iida met the ball with his first touch and calmly beat the goalkeeper to score his first goal in Latvian football, levelling the match at 1-1.
Super Nova even came close to snatching a late winner in the closing moments, creating several opportunities from corner kicks, but the hosts were unable to convert their chances.
The match ended in a draw, leaving Jelgava with one win and one draw from their opening two matches, placing them third in the standings, while Super Nova picked up their first point of the season after two rounds.
SK Super Nova vs FS Jelgava – 1-1 (0-1)
Goals: Iida 82′ | Kačanovs 35′
Round 2
FC RFS
FK Auda
Daugavpils
FS Jelgava
Tukums 2000| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FK Auda |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 | RFS |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| 3 | FS Jelgava |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | Riga FC |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | FK Liepāja |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Grobiņa |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| 7 | Super Nova |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
| 8 | FK Tukums 2000 |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
| 9 | Ogre United |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 1 |
| 10 | BFC Daugavpils |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 0 |
