Epic race nears finish line

By Aleksandrs Vasiljevs

In the next month, the question all Latvian football has been asking will be answered: can Skonto FC continue their world record run of national titles, or will FHK Liepajas Metalurgs end the Riga side's monopoly on the Virsliga crown?

Crucial meeting
Last Sunday, leaders Metalurgs were held 1-1 at FK Ventspils while Skonto won 4-2 at FK Riga. Metalurgs, who have three games left, are now only six points above Skonto - who hold a pair of matches in hand - meaning this Sunday's meeting of the top two in Liepaja could be pivotal.

Katasonov strikes
Metalurgs were heading for defeat at the weekend until Aleksandr Katasonov struck his 20th goal of the season with a free-kick deep in added time to end third-placed Ventspils' title hopes. Only eight days before, Metalurgs had beaten the same opponents 2-0 in a rescheduled match.

Skonto denied
Skonto, winners of all 13 post-Soviet championships, could have gone into next Sunday's game closer to their hosts, but dropped two points against Ventspils in October. Mihails Zemlinskis had a penalty saved by Deniss Romanovs 74 minutes into a goalless draw in Riga.

FIFA ruling
The title-holders, whose final fixture of the season is a trip to Ventspils on 11 November, four days after Metalurgs' last match, have a further worry after a FIFA disciplinary ruling that they owe nearly €275,000 to third-level side FK Ofriss from Eriks Pelcis's transfer to Korean Republic team Anyang LG Cheetahs in 2000. Should Skonto not pay the compensation, they face a possible six-point deduction, and the club have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

Relegation issues
At the bottom, FK Auda have long been relegated and remain on a single point after 26 games. However, several sides could still end up in seventh spot and facing a play-off with the second division runners-up for a place in the 2005 top flight.

Play-off question
SK Ditton Daugavpils are currently second from bottom with 26 points - one fewer than Riga with a game in hand, although they must play Skonto twice in their remaining three fixtures. Fifth-placed FK Jurmala have the same tally as Riga, whom they welcome on Sunday. Jurmala have played one match less than Ditton, but must still face Metalurgs again. FC Dinaburg are not mathematically safe either.