Latvia round-up: Top three victorious

The Virsliga's top three clubs - FC Skonto, FK Ventspils and FHK Liepajas Metalurgs - all recorded convincing victories in a busy week of action in Latvia.

Rizevskij double
Skonto overcame newcomers RKB-Arma Riga 6-0 thanks to goals from Pavel Rizevskij (2), Gatis Kalninsh, Aleksandrs Eliseevs, Maris Verpakovskis and Levan Korgalidze.

Dobrecovs hat-trick
Liepajas Metalurgs also recorded an impressive win, beating FK Gauja 6-1. The league's top scorer Viktors Dobrecovs scored a hat-trick and took his tally for the season to 14, while Aleksandrs Katasonovs, Jurijs Gricina and Girts Karlsons added further goals.

Seventh heaven
Ventspils recorded the biggest win of the round - a 7-0 success against FK Auda Riga. Striker Vitas Rimkus was on target four times in 21 second-half minutes following two first-half goals from Vladimirs Zavoronkovs and Gennadij Angels. Bronislav Jashurek added the seventh with 13 minutes remaining.

Dinaburg win
Elsewhere, FC Dinaburg beat 1-0 FK Riga thanks to a goal from Jurgis Puchinskij while in a rearranged fixture, Gauja beat 1-0 Auda with Eduards Kudrashovs scoring the only goal.

Holders into final
Skonto and Ventspils are also through to the Latvian Cup final after semi-final victories over FK Riga and FK Jurmala respectively. Holders Skonto won 4-1 thanks to Gatis Kalninsh's double and strikes from Maris Verpakovskis and Aleksej Vishnjakovs, while Venspils eased to a 3-1 win with Sergejs Zangareevs, Dejmantas Bichka and Vitas Rimkus on target.