Skonto success, Metalurgs misery

By Aleksandrs Vasiljevs

A thrilling title chase ended in tears for FHK Liepajas Metalurgs as Skonto FC came from behind to clinch a remarkable 14th consecutive championship and new European record.

Goal bonanza
It had, for the bulk of the campaign, looked as if the combination of Metalurgs' attacking strength - they averaged three goals a game - and the destabilising effect of a mid-season change of coach at Skonto would finally crack the Riga club's iron grip on the Latvian First Division crown.

Weakened but willing
Skonto will perhaps cherish this title above all others. In addition to the departure of coach Aleksandrs Starkovs for FC Spartak Moskva, Skonto were weakened by the loss of key midfielder Levan Korgalidze for much of the season, while winger Orestas Buitkus was consistently injured. Defender Ignas Dedura followed Starkovs to Spartak in August while the success of Latvia's national team, heavily staffed with Skonto players at UEFA EURO 2004™, took its toll with a run of poor results after the tournament's end.

Turning point
The appointment of Jurijs Andrejevs at Skonto, who also succeeded Starkovs as national coach, proved decisive as the new man brought in young talent in Aleksejs Višnjakovs, Andrei Perepletkin, Igors Semjonovs, Viktors Morozs and Edijs Ivaško. The last day in October was another turning point as Metalurgs, 2-0 up at home to Skonto, failed to capitalise and the visitors recovered to win 3-2 and claim a defining points and psychological advantage.

Winning spirit
Metalurgs coach Benjaminas Zelkevicius's pre-match comment that "if we are mentally ready to be champions we will win this title, if not, we have no chance," proved prescient. His post-match reaction - "Skonto are still the strongest side in Latvia and that should be attributed to their incredible winning spirit, my players simply don't have that" - was a gracious acknowledgement of the champions in waiting.

Size matters
Ultimately, Metalurgs may have found their small squad incapable of competing with the larger playing resources of Skonto and third-placed FK Ventspils. Ventspils, led by former Skonto captain and Georgian international Aleksander Rekhviashvili, retained the Latvia Cup but failed to challenge in the league as they finished 14 points behind Skonto.

Establishment challenge
While the 'big three' dominated yet again, there is hope that foreign coaches like Paul Ashworth at FK Riga and the influx of Argentinian players at FK Jurmala, may lead to an effective challenge to the established order. As with Metalurgs perhaps, the season will be one to forget for relegated FK Auda, one draw and 27 defeats from 28 league games ensuring their fate.