Reinforced Tukums squad beats Ventspils, who stay near relegation playoff zone
A reserve squad of "Tukums 2000", strengthened by several first-team players, defeated Ventspils 1:0 in Latvia's second-tier football league, leaving Ventspils near the bottom of the standings.
With five rounds remaining in Latvia's second-tier football league season, Ventspils suffered a 0:1 defeat to the reserve team of "Tukums 2000". The result leaves the club from Kurzeme still positioned just above the relegation playoff zone in the standings.
Last year Ventspils spent much of the season fighting for a return to the Virsliga, the country's top division, but this season the club has instead been battling to avoid relegation. Before this latest loss, Ventspils had just snapped a run of matches without a win by beating Skanste 1:0 the previous weekend.
A strengthened lineup
Taking advantage of a break in the Virsliga schedule, Tukums fielded several first-team players in its reserve squad, including Kaspars Anmanis, Rudolfs Reingolcs, Bogdans Samoilovs, Ukrainian Maksims Derkacs, and Japanese player Kojo Shigema, among others. Goalkeeping duties went to 19-year-old Alekss Kuprins, who had played against Grobina just a day earlier.
The match's only goal came in the 14th minute, when team captain Bogdans Samoilovs beat Ventspils goalkeeper Amin Mukajev.
Standings and upcoming matches
In the overall standings, Metta leads the league with 54 points, while Ventspils sits 13th out of 14 teams with 15 points. On October 10, Ventspils will host Leevon PPK, and the following day Tukums' main squad will travel to play in Smiltene.
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