Liepāja Advances After Away Win in Montenegro

FK Liepāja continued their European campaign with a hard-fought 2:1 victory over Dečič in Montenegro on Tuesday evening. Despite the heat—29 degrees Celsius even after sunset—the Latvian side managed to overturn an early deficit and secure the win, which gave them a 3:1 aggregate victory after their 1:0 home win a week earlier.

The match started poorly for Liepāja when Davor Kontic scored from 19 meters in the 12th minute, leaving goalkeeper Dāvis Ošs motionless. However, Liepāja equalized in first-half stoppage time. Bart Strālmans combined with Rodolfo Ekū on the right flank, played a low cross across the goal, and Kivons Leidmans tapped in to make it 1:1.

In the 61st minute, Liepāja took the lead. The hosts failed to clear the ball from their penalty area, and Felipe Vjeira volleyed home from 11 meters. Liepāja nearly added a third in stoppage time when substitute Džibrils Gueye had his shot cleared off the line.

This success is even more notable because Liepāja played with ten men for most of the first leg after Marvin Martins' red card in the 21st minute, yet still won 1:0 thanks to a goal by Virslīga top scorer Oloko Ede.

It is the first time since the summer of 2022 that Liepāja have advanced past a European round, when they beat Kosovan side Gjilani 3:2 on aggregate. The club earned €700,000 for winning the first round.

In the second round, Liepāja will face Austria Vienna, the fourth-placed team in the Austrian Bundesliga. The matches are scheduled for late July and early August.