UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Liepāja clinch first Latvian championship

Monday, October 19, 2015 by Mikhail Korolev

Members

A club presided over by former international Māris Verpakovskis, Liepāja have sealed their first Latvian title with a 4-0 victory procession against Metta/LU.

The Liepāja players and management celebrate their championship triumph
The Liepāja players and management celebrate their championship triumph ©Roman Koksharov

Liepāja are Latvian champions for the first time after today's 4-0 victory at bottom club Metta/LU clinched the First Division title with three games to spare.

Viktor Dobrecov's confident and consistent side had looked like champions-elect for a number of weeks but their win against Metta/LU took them over the final hurdle and out of reach for Skonto, Jelgava and Ventspils.

Attacking midfielder and the league's leading marksman Dāvis Ikaunieks opened the scoring with his 14th of the season. Dmitrijs Hmizs and Kristaps Grebis extended the advantage after the break, with an own goal completing the rout – and, with it, the title procession.

While this is a first national crown for FK Liepāja, the now-defunct Liepājas Metalurgs had been Latvian champions twice. Former international Māris Verpakovskis has been a key figure in their success, with Liepāja requiring just the two years of his club presidency to reach the top.

Reaction
Viktors Dobrecovs, Liepāja coach: "This is a big day for the club, our fans and the city. I'm grateful to my players, but the season isn't over yet. We will celebrate only after our last home game, in front of our fans. Tonight I didn't touch the cup. I will do so only when we get home."

© 1998-2024 UEFA. All rights reserved. Last updated: Sunday, November 3, 2019

Selected for you

UEFA.com's weekly wonderkid: Kaan Kairinen
Live 17/10/2015

UEFA.com's weekly wonderkid: Kaan Kairinen

"I will be ready when the right opportunity comes," said Inter Turku's Kaan Kairinen, with the cool-headed 16-year-old eager to fly the nest after dazzling in Finland.
BATE seal tenth straight title in Belarus
Live 16/10/2015

BATE seal tenth straight title in Belarus

Dmitri Mozolevski returned after two years out injured to help BATE Borisov beat Vitebsk 2-0 and secure their tenth consecutive title in Belarus with three games remaining.
Dundalk confirmed as Irish champions
Live 09/10/2015

Dundalk confirmed as Irish champions

"We lost one game all season and that is a great effort," said manager Stephen Kenny as Dundalk claimed a second successive title in the Republic of Ireland.
FH clinch Icelandic title for seventh time
Live 26/09/2015

FH clinch Icelandic title for seventh time

FH Hafnarfjördur beat Fjölnir on the penultimate week of the season to ensure a seventh league title, their five-point lead over Breidablik sealing the crown with a game to play.
UEFA.com's weekly wonderkid: Ianis Hagi
Live 26/09/2015

UEFA.com's weekly wonderkid: Ianis Hagi

"I don't feel pressure because of the name, I was raised with pressure." Introducing Gheorghe Hagi's son Ianis, only 16 but already captain of his father's team Viitorul Constanţa.
B36 retain Faroese title for first time
Live 13/09/2015

B36 retain Faroese title for first time

"This is really special," said Róaldur Jakobsen after B36 Tórshavn secured back-to-back Faroese titles for the first time in their history with three games to spare.
Europe's reigning champions and cup holders
Live 03/06/2021

Europe's reigning champions and cup holders

Check out all the reigning champions and domestic cup holders from across the continent.