Latvia round-up: Skonto edge ahead

FC Skonto, the last remaining unbeaten team in the Latvian First Division, moved top with a 2-1 win against pacesetters FK Ventspils.

Early lead cancelled out
Champions Skonto were two points behind Ventspils going into the fixture, and the title-holders were behind in the seventh minute after Andrej Butrik's opportunist 40-metre strike. However, within three minutes, Latvian international forward Maris Verpakovskis had levelled the scores, and on the 21-minute mark, Lithuanian defender Ignas Dedura headed in a corner to give Skonto a lead they defended stoutly.

'Two equal teams'
Atfer the game, Skonto head coach Aleksandrs Starkovs, whose side are seeking to stretch their European record for consecutive titles to 13, said: "The top two played but the quality of the game was not good. Two equal teams met today but we created more goal opportunities than Ventspilis. Skonto played excellently in defence. I would like to point out [Valentin] Lobanev and Dedura as well as Verpakovskis. It is a shame that we conceded such a ridiculous goal."

'An English game'
His opposite number, Paul Ashworth, whose side have been pipped by Skonto on the final day for the last two seasons, said: "We did not play badly. We made some defensive errors as our defenders were not concentrating. It was an English game - a lot of fight and high balls. However, I am an English coach and we should win such games."

Comprehensive win
FHK Liepajas Metalurgs remain third after a comprehensive 8-0 win against newly-promoted RKB-Arma Riga. Latvian international midfield player Viktors Dobrecovs scored four goals - and missed a penalty - Girts Karlsons claimed a double and Janis Rinkus and Aleksandrs Katasonovs one each as RKB-Arma remain bottom, without a point or goal in their six games.

Dinaburg victory
Elsewhere, fourth-placed FC Dinaburg beat FK Gauja 3-2 and FK Auda drew 1-1 with FK Riga, who are yet to win in their five fixtures, having drawn four times.