RFS advanced to within one win of reclaiming the Latvian Virslīga championship following a 3-0 away triumph against Super Nova during the 34th round of the campaign. Team captain Žiga Lipušček contributed two goals, and Darko Lemajič added a third, stretching the visitors’ advantage over Riga FC to seven points in the standings.
Entering the fixture as heavy favourites with the championship nearly in reach, RFS faced a Super Nova squad that had previously troubled several top-tier clubs throughout the season. Despite controlling possession, the away side encountered difficulties breaking through their opponents’ defense during a tightly contested first half.
RFS initiated their first scoring chance in the fourth minute when Herdi Prenga met a corner kick delivered by Laša Odisharia, sending his header just wide of the target. Roberts Savaļnieks subsequently challenged Super Nova netminder Dāvis Veisbuks with a shot from within the penalty area, and Modou Saidy also nearly scored with a header.
The home side generated opportunities of their own. During the 18th minute, Raivis Ķiršs tested RFS goalkeeper Jevgeņijs Nerugals with a header originating from a pass supplied by Valerijs Lizunovs.
RFS maintained their offensive pressure, prompting Veisbuks to make a crucial stop against Cedric Kouadio in the 24th minute, while Jānis Ikaunieks had his subsequent header blocked.
Two minutes later, Super Nova came remarkably close to seizing an unexpected advantage. Following an RFS corner kick, the hosts mounted a swift counterattack that featured Lizunovs advancing down the right side and firing a fierce shot that hit the crossbar.
The RFS head manager reacted by executing two interval substitutions, bringing on Dmitrijs Zelenkovs and Mārtiņš Ķigurs to replace Roberts Savaļnieks and Cedric Kouadio. These adjustments yielded immediate results.
Merely five minutes following the second-half restart, RFS broke the scoreless tie. Zelenkovs sent a corner kick into the box, allowing captain Žiga Lipušček to leap above the rest and direct a header into the bottom corner past Veisbuks, establishing a 1-0 lead for the visitors.
This breakthrough firmly shifted the momentum toward RFS, who doubled their lead nine minutes later. In the 59th minute, Odisharia provided a threatening cross from the right side that located Darko Lemajič inside the six-yard box. The Serbian forward executed his finish cleanly into the roof of the goal, securing his initial marker in three matches and pushing the score to 2-0.
Having secured a secure lead, RFS managed the pace of the match for a significant portion of the remainder of the half, though Super Nova persisted in seeking chances to rejoin the contest.
The visiting team stayed dangerous offensively, with Veisbuks stopping Ķigurs from close range in the 87th minute after receiving a precise through ball from Saidy.
RFS ultimately secured a third goal in the 88th minute, delivered once more by their captain. From another corner kick, Zelenkovs floated a precise cross into the area, where Lipušček climbed above the defenders to head the ball into the bottom corner, finishing his double and confirming the 3-0 final score.
The outcome places RFS seven points ahead of current titleholders Riga FC, although their cross-town opponents hold three fixtures in hand, beginning with an away match against Grobiņa on Monday.
Riga FC are required to triumph in all three remaining fixtures to maintain any chance of defending their crown. If they drop points against Grobiņa, RFS will capture the championship instantly without stepping onto the pitch. No matter what their competitors achieve, a single additional victory from their last two matches will mathematically secure the Virslīga title for RFS.
The match between SK Super Nova and FC RFS concluded with a 0-3 scoreline after a scoreless first half. The goals were credited to Lipušček in the 50th and 88th minutes, alongside Lemajič in the 59th minute.
SOURCE NAME: balticfootballnews.com
ORIGINAL HEADLINE: RFS move one win away from Virslīga title
Source: balticfootballnews.com
