Daugavpils beat rotated Auda and close in on Liepaja in race for European spot

In round 33 of the Virsliga, Latvia's top-tier football league, BFC Daugavpils beat Auda, a club from the Ogre area, 2:1 at the Esplanade stadium on 19 October. The result sharpens the fight for fourth place, which earns the last berth in European club competitions. Daugavpils are fifth with 45 points, one behind fourth-placed Liepaja on 46.

How the match unfolded

Daugavpils played without their suspended captain, Edgars Ivanovs. Auda made seven changes from their previous match in Liepaja. Captain Eduards Daskevics began on the bench, and first-choice goalkeeper Nils Purins was not even registered for the game. Alvis Jaunzems replaced suspended left-sided player Oskars Rubenis. It was his first competitive match in almost 13 months and his first in the Virsliga since August 2023.

Auda started actively, but late in the first half Daniels Kivinda put Daugavpils ahead (1:0). He controlled Ervins Pinaskins' pass on his chest and struck with his second touch. In the second half, after Daugavpils defender Papa Gneng fouled Ralfs Kraglics, Auda won a penalty. Andrews Apiah, an 18-year-old from Ghana, converted it for 1:1, his sixth goal since joining in the summer. Four minutes later Kivinda back-heeled a pass to 20-year-old Pinaskins, who made it 2:1. Joel Jakubu could have added a third but hit the post.

What comes next

It was Auda's first defeat on Latvian soil since June. They stay third with 64 points. Daugavpils still face Jelgava away, Tukums 2000 at home and Super Nova away. Liepaja have home games against Tukums 2000, Super Nova and Grobina. Daugavpils won both of this season's meetings with Auda.