FK "Metta" shut-out "Spartaks", extend Jūrmala side losing streak

FK "Spartaks" failed to score in their second league game in a row and fall to FK "Metta", who picked up their first league win of the season to move ahead of the Jūrmala side in league standings.

The Optibet Virslīga match between FK "Spartaks" and FK "Metta" was the last to kick-off in round 12 of the championship. "Spartaks" were the favourites to win on the day, but the youngsters from "Metta" started the match with more determination and were rewarded, when Nigerian striker Yunusa Muritala capitalized on his own rebound and opened the scoring on the 9th minute. After these events, "Spartaks" started to dominate on the field of play and created plenty of chances in their attacking third, but could not capitalize. The best chance came in the final minutes of the first half, when Adam Markhiyev was brought down in the penalty area and referee Aleksandr Anufrijevs pointed to the spot. Sadly French international Heythem Kerbache could not level the score and the teams entered half-time at 1:0 to "Metta".

The second half saw more of the same - pressure from "Spartaks" and "Metta" defending with 10 men. One of the rare opportunities the Riga side had, they capitalized on after a corner kick, taking full advantage of a miscommunication between "Spartaks" players and Muritala capitalizing on this mistake to make the score 2:0. "Spartaks" continued to attack and press the play, but to no avail. The score stayed the same until the final whistle and FK "Metta" could celebrate their first league victory of the season.

This loss meant that "Spartaks" dropped down to 7th place in league standings and the next three games will be very difficult for the Jūrmala side, as they take on the TOP 3 teams of the league at the moment - "Riga" FC, FK "RFS" and "Valmiera" FC. The next league match will be against defending champions "Riga" on the 13th of May at SB "Ķeizarmežs" and kick-off at 17:00.

FK "Metta" - FK "Spartaks" 2:0 (1:0)

Goals: Muritala 9', 54'.

Cautions: Korotkovs 24', Muritala 33', Čudars 63' - Asamoah 52', Ogunniyi 65'.

Metta: Beks - Korotkovs, Ozoliņš, Čudars, Birka, Musa, Novikovs, (Kirkils 79'), Grīnbergs (Lūsiņš 64'), Vapne (Vientiess 64'), Uldriķis, Muritala.

Spartaks: D. Ošs - Bērenfelds, Skrebels, Abdullahi, Ogunniyi, Wamba(Igbineweka 70'), Soloveičiks (Camara 80'), Rivoira (Prepelita 70'), Asamoah(Friday 55'), Kerbache, Markhiyev.