JDFS Alberts claimed a 3:2 victory over Smiltene in the 19th round of the 1. Liga on Saturday. The hosts held firm despite losing two players to red cards in the 74th minute, and here's the thing — they found a way through when it mattered most. M. Zegele opened the scoring in the 30th minute before adding a penalty just before half-time.
Smiltene responded well after the break, with V. Gaismins pulling one back in the 50th minute. He doubled his tally 16 minutes later to make it 2:2, and by then the match looked destined for a draw. But Alberts refused to let it slip away.
The turning point came in the 74th minute when both D. Indrans and A. Fezui were shown red cards. To be fair, Smiltene had been competitive, but losing two men changed the complexion of the game entirely. Alberts held their shape and waited for the opportunity.
J. Kalpaks ended a barren spell in the 90th minute to seal the three points. The hosts have now won four of their last five matches, while Smiltene's away form remains a concern. They've lost 13 of 19 games this season and are running out of games to turnaround their season.
Alberts sit fifth with 37 points, four behind the automatic promotion places. Smiltene remain in 13th place on just 10 points — they're running out of games to avoid trouble. Cup football has its own rules, but in the league, results like this separate the contenders from the rest.