RFS Claim Narrow Victory Over Daugavpils in Virslīga
RFS came away with a 2-1 win against Daugavpils on Saturday evening, a result that keeps the visitors top of the Virslīga table. The match, played at Daugavpils' ground, finished in regular time after a game that never quite settled into rhythm. Daugavpils took the lead through A. Traore in the sixteenth minute, a moment that shifted the tempo entirely. RFS responded through two late goals — Z. Lipuscek in the ninetieth and S. Panic from the spot four minutes into stoppage time.
The opening goal came from Traore, who finished a move that caught RFS napping. N. Barkovskis was substituted just three minutes later, perhaps a sign of nerves or tactical adjustment. Daugavpils held that lead through a patchy first half, with Z. Ouled-Haj-M'hand picking up a yellow card in the thirty-second minute for a challenge that needed stopping. The second half brought more changes — three for Daugavpils at the break, then Filipovic, Ikaunieks, Kivinda and Yakubu on for the visitors over the closing stages.
RFS dominated the numbers but struggled to convert. They finished with 62 per cent possession and 625 total passes to Daugavpils' 358, yet their shot accuracy of 43 per cent barely translated into goals. Daugavpils managed only 27 per cent accuracy and created zero big chances, but they found the net first. RFS registered two big chances and six shots on target, while the hosts mustered three shots on target and four off target. The penalty that sealed it came late, and by then the game had already slipped away.
The result leaves RFS eight points clear at the summit with just one game remaining on their schedule. Daugavpils sit fifth with thirty-eight points from thirty matches — ten wins, eight draws, twelve losses. They had drawn with RFS earlier this season, a 1-1 stalemate, but this time the visitors took something from the trip. The gap between first and fifth has never looked wider, though thirty minutes of chaos can change everything.