Stage set for Latvian play-off

FC Skonto and FK Ventspils will contest a play-off if they finish level after Saturday's final Virsliga fixtures.

Gold match
The Latvia Football Federation (LFF) announced today that should the current joint-leaders of the Latvian First Division finish level on points after Saturday's games, an additional 'gold match' will decide the destiny of the title.

Level on points
The two sides are currently level at the top of the table with 70 points each having both won 22 games, drawn four and lost one. Even though Skonto have scored more goals than Ventspils and have a better goal difference - the criteria used elsewhere in Europe to separate sides level on points -  the LFF have decided that a final play-off would be a more appropriate way to decide the destiny of the title.

Away games
Both sides have away games on Saturday, with Skonto travelling to third-placed FHK Liepajas Metalurgs and Ventspils taking a trip to fourth-placed FC Dinaburg. If both sides achieve the same results, the play-off game will be played at the Daugava stadium - home of the national team and Skonto's former ground - in the Latvian capital Riga next Wednesday.

Eerie parallels
Strangely, going into the final day of the 2002 Latvian season the situation was almost identical, with both capable of winning the title. Ventspils were a point clear of Skonto before kick-off, but they lost 1-0 at Dinaburg, while Skonto won 2-1 at Metalurgs to take the title.