The 36-game marathon of the 2024 Tonybet Virsliga season concluded at Jānis Daliņš Stadium with a disappointing 2-3 loss for Valmiera FC to Kristaps Dišlers’ FK Tukums 2000/Telms side.
The game delivered an early setback for Gatis Kalniņš’s team in the 3rd minute when Tukums midfielder Kaspars Anmanis converted a penalty against Dāvis Ošs after a foul in Valmiera’s box. Neither Tukums nor Valmiera had anything at stake in this match (with FK Auda dominating their parallel game against FK Metta, securing third place beyond Valmiera’s reach), allowing both teams to play with a relaxed, open approach. Valmiera’s attack initially faltered, and it wasn’t until the closing moments of the first half that they managed to even the score. A penalty was awarded against Tukums goalkeeper Jānis Beks, and Lukass Vapne slotted it in with pinpoint precision, leveling it at 1-1 against his former teammate.
The second half turned even more thrilling. In the 51st minute, Arturs Krancmanis evaded Valmiera’s defenders and Ošs, sending the ball into the back of the net—1-2. Just seven minutes later, thanks to a brilliant long pass from Andriy Korobenko, Valmiera’s sharpshooter Alioune Ndoye made his mark, scoring his 22nd goal in the league—2-2.
Despite Valmiera’s relentless efforts to please their loyal fans, the breakthrough didn’t come. In the 78th minute, after Ralfs Kragliks’ foul in the penalty area, Tukums captain and former Valmiera player Bogdans Samoilovs converted the third penalty of the match with a clean strike, sealing the victory. This proved to be the game-winning goal, ending the season on a high for Tukums and a bittersweet note for Valmiera.
In the final standings, Valmiera claimed 4th place in this Virsliga season. The team will regroup for the upcoming season in the New Year, following their regular preparation schedule.
