2015 Latvian Higher League

Last updated
Latvian Higher League
Season2015
Champions Liepāja
Champions League Liepāja
Matches played55
Goals scored123 (2.24 per match)
Top goalscorer Dāvis Ikaunieks (15)
Biggest home win Skonto 4-0 FS Metta/LU
(5 June 2015)
Biggest away win FS Metta/LU 1-5 Skonto
(10 August 2015)
Highest scoring FS Metta/LU 1-5 Skonto
(10 August 2015)
Longest winning run3 matches
Skonto
FK Liepāja
FK Jelgava
Longest unbeaten run13 matches
Ventspils
Longest winless run7 matches
FS Metta/LU
Longest losing run4 matches
FS Metta/LU
2014
2016

The 2015 Latvian Higher League is the 24th season of top-tier football in Latvia. FK Ventspils are the defending champions. The season started on 13 March 2015. [1]

Contents

Teams

FC Jūrmala relegated at the end of last season, and was replaced by FB Gulbene, which returned to the highest level after two years. Because FC Daugava did not obtain a license to play in the 2015 Higher League, and FK Daugava was dissolved before the beginning of the new season, the league started with 8 participants. On 3 June 2015, FB Gulbene was expelled from the top league and their results expunged on suspicion of match-fixing. [2]

Stadiums and locations

Latvia adm location map.svg
Locations of the 2015 Latvian Higher League teams
ClubLocationStadiumCapacity
Flag of Daugavpils.svg BFC Daugavpils Daugavpils Celtnieks Stadium 3,980
Flag of Gulbene.svg FB Gulbene Gulbene Gulbenes Sporta Centrs 1,500
Bandera Jelgava.png FK Jelgava Jelgava Zemgales Olimpiskais Sporta Centrs 2,200
Flag of Liepaja.svg FK Liepāja Liepāja Daugava Stadium 6,000
Flag of Riga.svg FS Metta/LU Riga Stadions Arkādija 500
Flag of Riga.svg Skonto FC Riga Skonto Stadium 10,000
Bandera jurmala.png FK Spartaks Jūrmala Jūrmala Slokas Stadium 5,000
Flag of Ventspils.svg FK Ventspils Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadium 3,200

Kits manufacturer and sponsors

ClubKit manufacturerSponsor
BFC Daugavpils Adidas Intergaz
FB Gulbene Jako
FK Jelgava Nike Igate
FK Liepāja Adidas
FS Metta/LU Nike
Skonto FC JakoSA Football Agency
FK Spartaks Jūrmala NikeHanseatisches Fußball Kontor
FK Ventspils AdidasVK Tranzīts

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1 Liepāja (C)2415724823+2552Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
2 Skonto (R)2413654323+2045Relegation to the Latvian First League [lower-alpha 1]
3 Ventspils 24111033916+2343Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round [lower-alpha 2]
4 Jelgava 2411852618+841
5 Spartaks Jūrmala 24561320361621
6 BFC Daugavpils 24281414372314
7 METTA/LU (O)24331819563712Qualification for the relegation play-offs
Gulbene (D, R)00000000Exclusion [lower-alpha 3]
Source: UEFA Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Matches won; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Fairplay ranking; 8) Play-off. [5] [6]
(C) Champion; (D) Disqualified; (O) Play-off winner; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Skonto failed to obtain a licence to play at the Higher League.
  2. Jelgava qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2015–16 Latvian Football Cup
  3. On 3 June 2015, Gulbene were excluded from the top league and their results were expunged after suspicion of match-fixing. [3] [4]

Relegation play-offs

The 7th-placed side will face the runners-up of the 2015 Latvian First League in a two-legged play-off, with the winner being awarded a spot in the 2016 Higher League competition.

Valmiera Glass FK/BSS 1–3 FS METTA/LU
Bruno Bērziņš Soccerball shade.svg48'Ingars Stuglis Soccerball shade.svg50'
Gatis Kalniņš Soccerball shade.svg70'
Roberts Uldriķis Soccerball shade.svg81'

FS METTA/LU 6-2 Valmiera Glass FK/BSS
Roberts Uldriķis Soccerball shade.svg18', 49'
Gatis Kalniņš Soccerball shade.svg37', 90+2'
Armands Pētersons Soccerball shade.svg55'
Rendijs Šibass Soccerball shade.svg75'
Jānis Lapss Soccerball shade.svg70'
Valts Jaunzems Soccerball shade.svg77'

FS METTA/LU won 9–3 on aggregate.

Results

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 7 November 2015
RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Flag of Latvia.svg Dāvis Ikaunieks Liepāja 15
2 Flag of Latvia.svg Vladislavs Gutkovskis Skonto 10
Flag of Albania.svg Ndue Mujeci Ventspils
4 Flag of Latvia.svg Ģirts Karlsons Ventspils 8
Flag of Latvia.svg Andrejs Kovaļovs Skonto

Updated to match(es) played on 7 November 2015.
Source:UEFA

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References

  1. Rolands Eliņš (2015-03-13). ""Liepāja" un "Skonto" Virslīgas jaunās sezonas pirmajā mačā". Sportacentrs.com.
  2. 'Gulbenes' dublieru komanda varēs turpināt piedalīties Latvijas dublieru čempionātā, Delfi, 4 June 2015, accessed 10 June 2015
  3. "LFF DK 3.JŪNIJA SĒDES LĒMUMI" [LFF DK JUNE 3 MEETING DECISIONS] (in Latvian). Latvian Football Federation. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  4. 'Gulbenes' dublieru komanda varēs turpināt piedalīties Latvijas dublieru čempionātā, Delfi, 4 June 2015, accessed 10 June 2015
  5. "2015. GADA LATVIJAS VIRSLĪGAS FUTBOLA ČEMPIONĀTA REGLAMENTS" (PDF) (in Latvian). Latvian Football Federation. 8 January 2015. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  6. "Virsliga 2015 - Season rules". Scoresway. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2015.