FK Liepājā cruise past RFS, while Riga FC a step closer to their Europa League dream
Latvijas Kauss (Latvian Cup) Semi Finals
The winner of the Latvijas Kauss will compete in the UEFA Europa League 1st Qualifying Round. In the Virsliga (Latvian League), 1st place plays in the UEFA Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round. 2nd and 3rd place teams play in the Europa League 1st Qualifying Round. If the winner of the Latvijas Kauss finishes 1st-3rd in the Virsliga, the 4th place team in the Virsliga competes in the Europa League 1st Qualifying Round.
FK Liepāja/Mogo vs RFS
FK Liepāja reach the Latvijas Kauss final for the first time in their history with a 4-1 win over Rigas Futbols Skola (RFS). This is a big game for both teams as they have never competed in the final, and RFS have never been in the Europa League.
FK Liepāja are the first to attack as Giorgi Eristavi's free kick in the 21st minute goes just wide. In the 27th minute, FK Liepāja get their first goal as defender Seydina Keita from Senegal who was unmarked strikes it in penalty box, and has a cool acrobatic celebration. RFS try to respond in the 38th minute as Eduards Višņakovs has a crack from outside the penalty box, but it is saved by Valentīns Raļkevičs.
Liepāja make 2-0 after the first 10 seconds of the 2nd half as RFS keeper Daniil Sizko kicks the ball at Ģirts Karlsons, forcing the ball in the net, a mistake Sizko will want to forget. 5 minutes later Artūrs Karašausks makes it 3-0 for Liepāja as he scores a cracker from outside the penalty box. During his celebration he is pretending to call the Latvian national football team coach Alexsandrs Starkovs so that he can play for Latvia, as Karašausks hasn't played for Latvia in 2017. In the 61st minute, RFS get a goal back as Roberts Savaļnieks crosses the ball for Eduards Višņakovs to slot it home. Liepājā have another chance to score, but Ģirts Karlsons misses an empty net. Ģirts Karlsons redeems himself in the 87th minute and scores at the same place where he missed.
As FK Liepāja reach the Latvijas Kauss final, anything other than a win would be a disappointing result. Although this match may have been a disappointment for RFS, they are currently in 4th place in the Virsliga and still have a fighting chance to be in the Europa League next year.
FK Liepāja are the first to attack as Giorgi Eristavi's free kick in the 21st minute goes just wide. In the 27th minute, FK Liepāja get their first goal as defender Seydina Keita from Senegal who was unmarked strikes it in penalty box, and has a cool acrobatic celebration. RFS try to respond in the 38th minute as Eduards Višņakovs has a crack from outside the penalty box, but it is saved by Valentīns Raļkevičs.
Liepāja make 2-0 after the first 10 seconds of the 2nd half as RFS keeper Daniil Sizko kicks the ball at Ģirts Karlsons, forcing the ball in the net, a mistake Sizko will want to forget. 5 minutes later Artūrs Karašausks makes it 3-0 for Liepāja as he scores a cracker from outside the penalty box. During his celebration he is pretending to call the Latvian national football team coach Alexsandrs Starkovs so that he can play for Latvia, as Karašausks hasn't played for Latvia in 2017. In the 61st minute, RFS get a goal back as Roberts Savaļnieks crosses the ball for Eduards Višņakovs to slot it home. Liepājā have another chance to score, but Ģirts Karlsons misses an empty net. Ģirts Karlsons redeems himself in the 87th minute and scores at the same place where he missed.
As FK Liepāja reach the Latvijas Kauss final, anything other than a win would be a disappointing result. Although this match may have been a disappointment for RFS, they are currently in 4th place in the Virsliga and still have a fighting chance to be in the Europa League next year.
(Photo credits: FK Liepāja Facebook page)
Riga FC vs Spartaks Jurmala
Riga FC reach the final for the second time ever, with a win over Spartaks Jurmala 2-1 in extra time. Although Riga FC are a defensive team, they are the first to attack, as Darko Lemajič does a bicycle kick in the 6th minute, but it is saved by Vitālijs Meļņičenko. Riga FC have another go in the 13th minute as Minori Sato goes one on one with the keeper but Meļņičenko makes a great save.
In the 50th minute, Spartaks have an opportunity to score, as Edgars Gauračs dribbles past a defender, but Riga FC keeper Vladislavs Kurakins beats Gauračs to the ball. In the 61st minute, Riga FC take the lead as Latvian national team captain Kaspars Gorkšs scores a stunning header to give his side a 1-0 lead. In the 93rd minute, Croatian midfielder Kruno Ivančić from Spartaks hits the top post to give Spartaks a bit of hope. In the last seconds of the match, Spartaks tie the game as Dzmitry Platonov scores a deflection of a goal to bring the game to extra time.
In the 107th minute, Spartaks midfielder Aziz Ibragimov recives a great cross from Klāvs Bāliņš but his shot is saved by Kurakins. Three minutes later, Riga FC take the lead, as Romāns Mickevičs gives a beautiful chip pass for Lemajič to score his 3rd goal in the Latvijas Kauss.
As Riga FC have never competed in the Europa League, the final against FK Liepāja on October 18th will be the biggest match in their club history, since they lost the last Latvijas Kauss final against FK Ventspils. Spartaks are currently in 1st place in the Virsliga and will now focus on the Virsliga.
In the 50th minute, Spartaks have an opportunity to score, as Edgars Gauračs dribbles past a defender, but Riga FC keeper Vladislavs Kurakins beats Gauračs to the ball. In the 61st minute, Riga FC take the lead as Latvian national team captain Kaspars Gorkšs scores a stunning header to give his side a 1-0 lead. In the 93rd minute, Croatian midfielder Kruno Ivančić from Spartaks hits the top post to give Spartaks a bit of hope. In the last seconds of the match, Spartaks tie the game as Dzmitry Platonov scores a deflection of a goal to bring the game to extra time.
In the 107th minute, Spartaks midfielder Aziz Ibragimov recives a great cross from Klāvs Bāliņš but his shot is saved by Kurakins. Three minutes later, Riga FC take the lead, as Romāns Mickevičs gives a beautiful chip pass for Lemajič to score his 3rd goal in the Latvijas Kauss.
As Riga FC have never competed in the Europa League, the final against FK Liepāja on October 18th will be the biggest match in their club history, since they lost the last Latvijas Kauss final against FK Ventspils. Spartaks are currently in 1st place in the Virsliga and will now focus on the Virsliga.
(Photo credits: Futbols Facebook page)
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