:1996 Latvian Higher League
{{Short description|Annual soccer tournament}}
{{Infobox football league season
| competition = Latvian Higher League
| season = 1996
| winners = Skonto FC
| relegated = Skonto/Metals
FK Jurnieks
| continentalcup1 = UEFA Champions League
| continentalcup1 qualifiers = Skonto FC
| continentalcup2 = UEFA Cup
| continentalcup2 qualifiers = Torpedo Riga
| continentalcup3 = Cup Winners' Cup
| continentalcup3 qualifiers = Dinaburg FC
| continentalcup4 = UEFA Intertoto Cup
| continentalcup4 qualifiers = RAF Jelgava
| matches =
| total goals =
| league topscorer = {{flagicon|LVA}} Mihails Miholaps (33 goals)
| biggest home win =
| biggest away win =
| highest scoring =
| longest wins =
| longest unbeaten =
| longest losses =
| highest attendance =
| lowest attendance =
| average attendance =
| prevseason = 1995
| nextseason = 1997
}}
The 1996 season in the Latvian Higher League, named Virslīga, was the sixth domestic competition since the Baltic nation gained independence from the Soviet Union on 6 September 1991. Tenth teams competed in this edition, with Skonto FC claiming the title.
First round
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|team1=SKO|name_SKO=Skonto
|team2=TOR|name_TOR=Daugava Rīga
|team3=DIN|name_DIN=Dinaburg
|team4=LIE|name_LIE=Baltika Liepāja
|team5=UNI|name_UNI=Universitāte
|team6=STA|name_STA=Starts
|team7=VAI|name_VAI=Vairogs
|team8=LOK|name_LOK=Lokomotīve
|team9=SKM|name_SKM=Skonto/Metāls
|team10=JŪR|name_JŪR=Jūrnieks
|win_SKO=15|draw_SKO=2|loss_SKO=1|gf_SKO=74|ga_SKO=9
|win_TOR=13|draw_TOR=4|loss_TOR=1|gf_TOR=41|ga_TOR=11
|win_DIN=9|draw_DIN=5|loss_DIN=4|gf_DIN=30|ga_DIN=19
|win_LIE=8|draw_LIE=4|loss_LIE=6|gf_LIE=23|ga_LIE=21
|win_UNI=7|draw_UNI=5|loss_UNI=6|gf_UNI=24|ga_UNI=29
|win_STA=5|draw_STA=5|loss_STA=8|gf_STA=20|ga_STA=35
|win_VAI=5|draw_VAI=3|loss_VAI=10|gf_VAI=19|ga_VAI=32
|win_LOK=4|draw_LOK=5|loss_LOK=9|gf_LOK=18|ga_LOK=31
|win_SKM=2|draw_SKM=3|loss_SKM=13|gf_SKM=9|ga_SKM=38
|win_JŪR=1|draw_JŪR=6|loss_JŪR=11|gf_JŪR=11|ga_JŪR=44
|col_CG=green2|text_CG=Qualification for championship group
|result1=CG|result2=CG|result3=CG|result4=CG|result5=CG|result6=CG
|col_RG=red2|text_RG=Qualification for relegation group
|result7=RG|result8=RG|result9=RG|result10=RG
|update=complete|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/let96.html rsssf.com]
}}
=Match table=
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=BAL|team2=DAU|team3=DIN|team4=JŪR|team5=LOK
|team6=SKO|team7=SKM|team8=STA|team9=UNI|team10=VAI
|name_SKO=Skonto
|match_SKO_DAU=3-3
|match_SKO_DIN=7-0
|match_SKO_BAL=5-0
|match_SKO_UNI=11-1
|match_SKO_STA=4-0
|match_SKO_VAI=6-0
|match_SKO_LOK=3-2
|match_SKO_SKM=4-1
|match_SKO_JŪR=5-0
|name_DAU=Daugava Rīga
|match_DAU_SKO=0-1
|match_DAU_DIN=2-2
|match_DAU_BAL=1-1
|match_DAU_UNI=2-1
|match_DAU_STA=2-1
|match_DAU_VAI=2-0
|match_DAU_LOK=1-0
|match_DAU_SKM=3-0
|match_DAU_JŪR=7-0
|name_DIN=Dinaburg
|match_DIN_SKO=0-4
|match_DIN_DAU=1-2
|match_DIN_BAL=1-1
|match_DIN_UNI=0-0
|match_DIN_STA=5-0
|match_DIN_VAI=4-0
|match_DIN_LOK=2-0
|match_DIN_SKM=1-2
|match_DIN_JŪR=2-0
|name_BAL=Baltika Liepāja
|match_BAL_SKO=0-1
|match_BAL_DAU=0-1
|match_BAL_DIN=0-3
|match_BAL_UNI=1-2
|match_BAL_STA=1-0
|match_BAL_VAI=3-1
|match_BAL_LOK=2-3
|match_BAL_SKM=1-0
|match_BAL_JŪR=4-0
|name_UNI=Universitāte
|match_UNI_SKO=0-0
|match_UNI_DAU=0-1
|match_UNI_DIN=1-1
|match_UNI_BAL=0-1
|match_UNI_STA=0-1
|match_UNI_VAI=0-3
|match_UNI_LOK=2-1
|match_UNI_SKM=4-0
|match_UNI_JŪR=2-0
|name_STA=Starts
|match_STA_SKO=2-1
|match_STA_DAU=0-0
|match_STA_DIN=0-4
|match_STA_BAL=0-2
|match_STA_UNI=0-2
|match_STA_VAI=3-6
|match_STA_LOK=1-1
|match_STA_SKM=2-1
|match_STA_JŪR=4-1
|name_VAI=Vairogs
|match_VAI_SKO=0-5
|match_VAI_DAU=0-2
|match_VAI_DIN=0-1
|match_VAI_BAL=0-0
|match_VAI_UNI=1-2
|match_VAI_STA=1-2
|match_VAI_LOK=1-1
|match_VAI_SKM=0-0
|match_VAI_JŪR=1-0
|name_LOK=Lokomotīve
|match_LOK_SKO=0-5
|match_LOK_DAU=1-5
|match_LOK_DIN=0-1
|match_LOK_BAL=1-2
|match_LOK_UNI=1-1
|match_LOK_STA=2-2
|match_LOK_VAI=1-0
|match_LOK_SKM=1-0
|match_LOK_JŪR=2-1
|name_SKM=Skonto/Metāls
|match_SKM_SKO=0-5
|match_SKM_DAU=0-4
|match_SKM_DIN=0-2
|match_SKM_BAL=0-2
|match_SKM_UNI=1-2
|match_SKM_STA=2-2
|match_SKM_VAI=0-3
|match_SKM_LOK=1-0
|match_SKM_JŪR=1-1
|name_JŪR=Jūrnieks
|match_JŪR_SKO=0-4
|match_JŪR_DAU=0-3
|match_JŪR_DIN=0-0
|match_JŪR_BAL=2-2
|match_JŪR_UNI=4-4
|match_JŪR_STA=0-0
|match_JŪR_VAI=0-2
|match_JŪR_LOK=1-1
|match_JŪR_SKM=1-0
|update=complete
|source=
}}
Second round
=Championship group=
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|team1=SKO|name_SKO=Skonto
|team2=TOR|name_TOR=Daugava Rīga
|team3=DIN|name_DIN=Dinaburg
|team4=UNI|name_UNI=Universitāte
|team5=LIE|name_LIE=Baltika Liepāja
|team6=STA|name_STA=Starts
|win_SKO=23|draw_SKO=4|loss_SKO=1|gf_SKO=98|ga_SKO=12|status_SKO=C
|win_TOR=18|draw_TOR=7|loss_TOR=3|gf_TOR=61|ga_TOR=18
|win_DIN=13|draw_DIN=8|loss_DIN=7|gf_DIN=53|ga_DIN=31
|win_UNI=11|draw_UNI=6|loss_UNI=11|gf_UNI=37|ga_UNI=45
|win_LIE=11|draw_LIE=5|loss_LIE=12|gf_LIE=32|ga_LIE=44
|win_STA=6|draw_STA=5|loss_STA=17|gf_STA=26|ga_STA=69|status_STA=R
|col_UCL=green1|text_UCL=Qualification for Champions League first qualifying round
|result1=UCL
|col_UC=blue1|text_UC=Qualification for UEFA Cup first qualifying round
|result2=UC
|col_CWC=yellow1|text_CWC=Qualification for Cup Winners' Cup qualifying round
|result3=CWC
|col_IC=#ccccff|text_IC=Qualification for Intertoto Cup group stage
|result4=IC
|col_WD=black1|text_WD=Dissolved after the season
|result6=WD|result8=WD
|update=complete|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/let96.html rsssf.com]
}}
==Match table==
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=BAL|team2=DAU|team3=DIN|team4=SKO|team5=STA
|team6=UNI
|name_SKO=Skonto
|match_SKO_DAU=1-0
|match_SKO_DIN=3-1
|match_SKO_UNI=6-0
|match_SKO_BAL=3-0
|match_SKO_STA=4-0
|name_DAU=Daugava Rīga
|match_DAU_SKO=1-1
|match_DAU_DIN=0-0
|match_DAU_UNI=0-1
|match_DAU_BAL=3-1
|match_DAU_STA=3-0
|name_DIN=Dinaburg
|match_DIN_SKO=1-1
|match_DIN_DAU=1-1
|match_DIN_UNI=2-1
|match_DIN_BAL=3-0
|match_DIN_STA=7-0
|name_UNI=Universitāte
|match_UNI_SKO=0-1
|match_UNI_DAU=1-3
|match_UNI_DIN=2-0
|match_UNI_BAL=2-2
|match_UNI_STA=2-1
|name_BAL=Baltika Liepāja
|match_BAL_SKO=0-2
|match_BAL_DAU=0-5
|match_BAL_DIN=2-0
|match_BAL_UNI=0-4
|match_BAL_STA=3-1
|name_STA=Starts
|match_STA_SKO=0-2
|match_STA_DAU=1-4
|match_STA_DIN=2-8
|match_STA_UNI=1-0
|match_STA_BAL=0-1
|update=complete
|source=
}}
=Relegation group=
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=R
|highest_pos = 7
|team7=LOK|name_LOK=Lokomotīve
|team8=VAI|name_VAI=Vairogs
|team9=SKM|name_SKM=Skonto/Metāls
|team10=JŪR|name_JŪR=Jūrnieks
|win_LOK=10|draw_LOK=9|loss_LOK=11|gf_LOK=38|ga_LOK=45
|win_VAI=9|draw_VAI=6|loss_VAI=15|gf_VAI=37|ga_VAI=54
|win_SKM=7|draw_SKM=6|loss_SKM=17|gf_SKM=25|ga_SKM=53|status_SKM=R
|win_JŪR=4|draw_JŪR=8|loss_JŪR=18|gf_JŪR=25|ga_JŪR=61|status_JŪR=R
|col_RP=red2|text_RP=Qualification for relegation play-offs
|result9=RP
|col_R=red1|text_R=Relegation to Latvian First League
|result10=R
|update=complete|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/let96.html rsssf.com]
}}
==Match table==
| valign="top"
| {{#invoke:sports results|main |title=Matches 19–24 |matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey |team1=JŪR|team2=LOK|team3=SKM|team4=VAI |name_LOK=Lokomotīve |match_LOK_VAI=1-2 |match_LOK_SKM=1-1 |match_LOK_JŪR=2-1 |name_VAI=Vairogs |match_VAI_LOK=1-1 |match_VAI_SKM=2-1 |match_VAI_JŪR=1-1 |name_SKM=Skonto/Metāls |match_SKM_LOK=1-4 |match_SKM_VAI=1-2 |match_SKM_JŪR=0-1 |name_JŪR=Jūrnieks |match_JŪR_LOK=0-2 |match_JŪR_VAI=2-3 |match_JŪR_SKM=0-2 |update=complete |source= }} | | {{#invoke:sports results|main |title=Matches 25–30 |matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey |team1=JŪR|team2=LOK|team3=SKM|team4=VAI |name_LOK=Lokomotīve |match_LOK_VAI=3-2 |match_LOK_SKM=0-2 |match_LOK_JŪR=1-0 |name_VAI=Vairogs |match_VAI_LOK=1-1 |match_VAI_SKM=0-1 |match_VAI_JŪR=1-2 |name_SKM=Skonto/Metāls |match_SKM_LOK=2-2 |match_SKM_VAI=3-2 |match_SKM_JŪR=0-0 |name_JŪR=Jūrnieks |match_JŪR_LOK=1-2 |match_JŪR_VAI=5-1 |match_JŪR_SKM=1-2 |update=complete |source= }} |
Relegation play-offs
The matches were played on 29 October and 3 November 1996.
{{TwoLegStart}}
{{TwoLegResult|Skonto/Metāls||1–2|Valmiera||1–0|0–2}}
|}
Top scorers
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
| Rank
!Player !Club !Goals | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | align="left"|{{flagathlete|Mihails Miholaps|LAT}} | align="left"|FK Daugava Rīga | 33 |
| 2 | align="left"|{{flagathlete|Aleksandr Pindeyev|UKR}} | align="left"|Skonto FC | 17 |
| rowspan=2|3 | align="left"|{{flagathlete|Vladimirs Babičevs|LAT}} | align="left"|Skonto FC | rowspan=2|16 |
| align="left"|{{flagathlete|Juris Karašausks|LAT}} | align="left"|Dinaburg FC | ||
| 5 | align="left"|{{flagathlete|Aleksandrs Fedotovs|LAT}} | align="left"|Dinaburg FC | 13 |
Awards
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" | |||
| width="80"|Best
!width="220"|Name !width="220"|Team | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |Goalkeeper | {{flagathlete|Raimonds Laizāns|LAT}} | Skonto FC | |
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | Defender | {{flagathlete|Jurijs Ševļakovs|LAT}} | Skonto FC |
| |Midfielder | {{flagathlete|Vitālijs Astafjevs|LAT}} | Skonto FC | |
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | Forward | {{flagathlete|Mihails Miholaps|LAT}} | FK Daugava Rīga |
Skonto FC 1996
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" | |||||
| bgcolor="#efefef"
!width="30"|Pos !width="220"|Name !width="150"|Birthdate !width="30"|P !width="30"|{{goal}} !width="30"|{{yel}} !width="30"|{{sent off|0}} | |||||
| |MF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Vitālijs Astafjevs | 03.04.1971 | 18 | 12 | 1| |
| |MF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Vladimirs Babičevs | 22.04.1968 | 25 | 16 | 3| |
| |{{flagicon|RUS}} Vladlen Bausev | 03.03.1967 | 10 | 3| | ||
| |DF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Oļegs Blagonadeždins | 16.05.1973 | 23 | 1| | |
| |MF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Imants Bleidelis | 16.08.1975 | 20 | 3| | |
| |{{flagicon|RUS}} Konstantin Ivanov | 10.05.1964 | 6| | |||
| |MF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Valērijs Ivanovs | 23.02.1970 | 27 | 3 | 2 | |
| |FW | {{flagicon|LAT}} Aleksandrs Jelisejevs | 11.08.1971 | 15 | 10 | 1 | |
| |GK | {{flagicon|LAT}} Aleksandrs Koļiņko | 18.06.1975 | 9 | –3 | 1| |
| |GK | {{flagicon|LAT}} Raimonds Laizāns | 05.08.1964 | 19 | –9 | 1| |
| |{{flagicon|LAT}} Vsevolods Līdaks | 22.10.1977 | 6 | 1 | | ||
| |{{flagicon|LAT}} Valentins Lobaņovs | 23.10.1971 | 19 | 3 | 2 | | |
| |DF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Boriss Monjaks | 11.04.1970 | 10| | ||
| |FW | {{flagicon|LAT}} Marians Pahars | 05.08.1976 | 28 | 12 | 2 | |
| |{{flagicon|UKR}} Aleksandr Pindejev | 03.03.1971 | 26 | 17 | 5 | | |
| |{{flagicon|LAT}} Igors Stepanovs | 21.01.1976 | 22 | 2 | 3 | | |
| |DF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Jurijs Ševļakovs | 24.01.1959 | 24 | 1 | 5 | |
| |FW | {{flagicon|LAT}} Andrejs Štolcers | 08.07.1974 | 26 | 6 | 3 | |
| |DF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Igors Troickis | 11.01.1969 | 26 | 3 | 4 | |
| |DF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Mihails Zemļinskis | 21.12.1969 | 24 | 4 | 3 | |
| colspan=7 align=center|Manager: {{flagicon|LAT}} Aleksandrs Starkovs |
References
- [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/let96.html RSSSF]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090302094049/http://www.skontofc.lv/lat/lat_chemp/1996/ Skonto FC 1996]
{{Latvian Higher League seasons}}
{{1995–96 in European football (UEFA)}}
{{1996–97 in European football (UEFA)}}