Ventspils victorious again

Just days ahead of their UEFA Cup first-round second leg against KS Amica Wronki, FK Ventspils booked their place in next season's competition by retaining the Latvian Cup in Riga. In a repeat of the 2003 final, a 4-0 stroll which gave Saulius Širmelis's side a route into Europe this summer, Ventspils defeated Skonto FC, this time prevailing 2-1.

Tight trio
Latvia striker Vits Rimkus set Ventspils on their way to their second-ever trophy by opening the scoring on 40 minutes with a volley from eight metres. Ventspils' central trio of Alexander Rekhviashvili, Igor Stukalin and Andrei Agafonov dominated the game throughout and when Agafonov set up Deimantas Bička on 70 minutes, the score was duly doubled.

Late dismissal
Orestas Buiktkus halved the deficit four minutes from time before seeing team-mate Arturs Zakreševskis dismissed for a second bookable offence. Skonto's chances of an equaliser effectively disappeared down the tunnel with him.

'Tougher victory'
"It was great to win a trophy, and it was even better to win it for a second time in a row," said Širmelis. "It was a tougher victory than a year ago - it was obvious that Skonto did not want us to beat them twice in a row. But even so we managed to bring the cup home again."