:1998 Latvian Higher League
{{Short description|Latvian football league season for the highest division}}
{{Infobox football league season
| competition = Latvian Higher League
| season = 1998
| winners = Skonto FC
| relegated = LU-Daugava
Ranto-Miks
| continentalcup1 = UEFA Champions League
| continentalcup1 qualifiers = Skonto FC
| continentalcup2 = UEFA Cup
| continentalcup2 qualifiers = Liepajas
FK Ventspils
| continentalcup3 = UEFA Intertoto Cup
| continentalcup3 qualifiers = Dinaburg FC
| matches =
| total goals =
| league topscorer = {{flagicon|LVA}} Viktors Dobrecovs
| biggest home win =
| biggest away win =
| highest scoring =
| longest wins =
| longest unbeaten =
| longest losses =
| highest attendance =
| lowest attendance =
| average attendance =
| prevseason = 1997
| nextseason = 1999
}}
The 1998 season in the Latvian Higher League, named Virslīga, was the 8th domestic competition since the Baltic nation gained independence from the Soviet Union on 6 September 1991. Eight teams competed in this edition, with Skonto FC claiming the title.
Final table
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=QR
|team1=SKO|name_SKO=Skonto
|team2=MET|name_MET=Liepājas Metalurgs
|team3=VEN|name_VEN=Ventspils
|team4=DIN|name_DIN=Dinaburg
|team5=VAL|name_VAL=Valmiera
|team6=DAU|name_DAU=LU-Daugava
|team7=RĒZ|name_RĒZ=Rēzekne
|team8=RAN|name_RAN=Ranto-Miks
|win_SKO=21|draw_SKO=4|loss_SKO=3|gf_SKO=98|ga_SKO=27|status_SKO=C
|win_MET=17|draw_MET=6|loss_MET=5|gf_MET=62|ga_MET=25
|win_VEN=16|draw_VEN=6|loss_VEN=6|gf_VEN=56|ga_VEN=23
|win_DIN=11|draw_DIN=10|loss_DIN=7|gf_DIN=49|ga_DIN=31
|win_VAL=10|draw_VAL=7|loss_VAL=11|gf_VAL=39|ga_VAL=59
|win_DAU=7|draw_DAU=9|loss_DAU=12|gf_DAU=42|ga_DAU=42|status_DAU=R
|win_RĒZ=2|draw_RĒZ=5|loss_RĒZ=21|gf_RĒZ=22|ga_RĒZ=80
|win_RAN=2|draw_RAN=5|loss_RAN=21|gf_RAN=25|ga_RAN=106|status_RAN=R
|col_UCL=green1|text_UCL=Qualification for Champions League first qualifying round
|result1=UCL
|col_UC=blue1|text_UC=Qualification for UEFA Cup qualifying round
|result2=UC|result3=UC
|col_IC=#ccccff|text_IC=Qualification for Intertoto Cup first round
|result4=IC
|col_R=red1|text_R=Relegation to Latvian First League
|result6=R|result8=R
|update=complete|source=
}}
Match table
{{Col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|title=First half of the season
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=DIN|team2=MET|team3=DAU|team4=RAN|team5=RĒZ
|team6=SKO|team7=VAL|team8=VEN
|name_SKO=Skonto
|match_SKO_MET=1-0
|match_SKO_VEN=1-0
|match_SKO_DIN=0-2
|match_SKO_VAL=4-0
|match_SKO_DAU=2-3
|match_SKO_RĒZ=7-0
|match_SKO_RAN=9-0
|name_MET=Liepājas Metalurgs
|match_MET_SKO=0-0
|match_MET_VEN=0-0
|match_MET_DIN=1-2
|match_MET_VAL=4-1
|match_MET_DAU=3-2
|match_MET_RĒZ=4-0
|match_MET_RAN=7-0
|name_VEN=Ventspils
|match_VEN_SKO=2-1
|match_VEN_MET=0-1
|match_VEN_DIN=0-0
|match_VEN_VAL=0-3
|match_VEN_DAU=1-0
|match_VEN_RĒZ=4-1
|match_VEN_RAN=9-0
|name_DIN=Dinaburg
|match_DIN_SKO=0-1
|match_DIN_MET=0-1
|match_DIN_VEN=1-1
|match_DIN_VAL=6-1
|match_DIN_DAU=0-0
|match_DIN_RĒZ=0-0
|match_DIN_RAN=6-1
|name_VAL=Valmiera
|match_VAL_SKO=1-4
|match_VAL_MET=2-1
|match_VAL_VEN=0-0
|match_VAL_DIN=0-2
|match_VAL_DAU=2-2
|match_VAL_RĒZ=3-0
|match_VAL_RAN=4-0
|name_DAU=LU-Daugava
|match_DAU_SKO=3-5
|match_DAU_MET=0-0
|match_DAU_VEN=1-1
|match_DAU_DIN=2-2
|match_DAU_VAL=4-2
|match_DAU_RĒZ=8-2
|match_DAU_RAN=3-0
|name_RĒZ=Rēzekne
|match_RĒZ_SKO=0-2
|match_RĒZ_MET=2-3
|match_RĒZ_VEN=1-4
|match_RĒZ_DIN=0-1
|match_RĒZ_VAL=1-2
|match_RĒZ_DAU=1-2
|match_RĒZ_RAN=2-2
|name_RAN=Ranto-Miks
|match_RAN_SKO=3-3
|match_RAN_MET=3-4
|match_RAN_VEN=0-1
|match_RAN_DIN=0-6
|match_RAN_VAL=0-0
|match_RAN_DAU=2-1
|match_RAN_RĒZ=1-3
|update=complete
|source=
}}
{{col-2}}
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|title=Second half of the season
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=DIN|team2=MET|team3=DAU|team4=RAN|team5=RĒZ
|team6=SKO|team7=VAL|team8=VEN
|name_SKO=Skonto
|match_SKO_MET=1-1
|match_SKO_VEN=4-0
|match_SKO_DIN=2-1
|match_SKO_VAL=15-2
|match_SKO_DAU=3-0
|match_SKO_RĒZ=1-0
|match_SKO_RAN=4-0
|name_MET=Liepājas Metalurgs
|match_MET_SKO=1-1
|match_MET_VEN=1-0
|match_MET_DIN=3-0
|match_MET_VAL=2-1
|match_MET_DAU=2-1
|match_MET_RĒZ=7-0
|match_MET_RAN=5-1
|name_VEN=Ventspils
|match_VEN_SKO=2-3
|match_VEN_MET=2-0
|match_VEN_DIN=1-1
|match_VEN_VAL=3-0
|match_VEN_DAU=3-0
|match_VEN_RĒZ=3-0
|match_VEN_RAN=3-2
|name_DIN=Dinaburg
|match_DIN_SKO=1-4
|match_DIN_MET=1-1
|match_DIN_VEN=0-3
|match_DIN_VAL=0-0
|match_DIN_DAU=0-2
|match_DIN_RĒZ=2-1
|match_DIN_RAN=5-1
|name_VAL=Valmiera
|match_VAL_SKO=1-5
|match_VAL_MET=2-1
|match_VAL_VEN=0-3
|match_VAL_DIN=1-1
|match_VAL_DAU=2-1
|match_VAL_RĒZ=0-0
|match_VAL_RAN=1-0
|name_DAU=LU-Daugava
|match_DAU_SKO=1-2
|match_DAU_MET=0-1
|match_DAU_VEN=1-2
|match_DAU_DIN=0-0
|match_DAU_VAL=0-0
|match_DAU_RĒZ=1-1
|match_DAU_RAN=2-0
|name_RĒZ=Rēzekne
|match_RĒZ_SKO=1-6
|match_RĒZ_MET=1-2
|match_RĒZ_VEN=0-3
|match_RĒZ_DIN=2-4
|match_RĒZ_VAL=0-5
|match_RĒZ_DAU=2-1
|match_RĒZ_RAN=1-2
|name_RAN=Ranto-Miks
|match_RAN_SKO=2-7
|match_RAN_MET=1-6
|match_RAN_VEN=1-5
|match_RAN_DIN=2-5
|match_RAN_VAL=0-3
|match_RAN_DAU=1-1
|match_RAN_RĒZ=0-0
|update=complete
|source=
}}
{{col-end}}
Top scorers
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
Rank
!Player !Club !Goals | |||
---|---|---|---|
1 | align="left"|{{flagathlete|Viktors Dobrecovs|LAT}} | align="left"|FHK Liepājas Metalurgs | 23 |
2 | align="left"|{{flagathlete|Roman Grigorčuk|UKR}} | align="left"|Dinaburg FC | 21 |
3 | align="left"|{{flagathlete|Mihails Miholaps|LAT}} | align="left"|Skonto FC | 20 |
4 | align="left"|{{flagathlete|Marians Pahars|LAT}} | align="left"|Skonto FC | 19 |
rowspan=2|5 | align="left"|{{flagathlete|Vladimirs Babičevs|LAT}} | align="left"|Skonto FC | rowspan=2|11 |
align="left"|{{flagathlete|Vīts Rimkus|LAT}} | align="left"|Skonto FC |
Awards
class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" | |||
width="80"|Best
!width="205"|Name !width="205"|Team | |||
---|---|---|---|
|Goalkeeper | {{flagathlete|Oļegs Karavajevs|LAT}} | Skonto FC | |
bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | Defender | {{flagathlete|Mihails Zemļinskis|LAT}} | Skonto FC |
|Midfielder | {{flagathlete|Vladimirs Babičevs|LAT}} | Skonto FC | |
bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | Forward | {{flagathlete|Marians Pahars|LAT}} | Skonto FC |
Skonto FC 1998
class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" | ||||||
bgcolor="#efefef"
!width="30"|Pos !width="220"|Name !width="120"|Birthdate !width="30"|P !width="30"|{{goal}} !width="30"|{{yel}} !width="30"|{{sent off|0}} | ||||||
| | {{flagicon|UKR}} Nikolay Apilats | 21.09.1974 | 2| | |||
|MF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Vitālijs Astafjevs | 03.04.1971 | 23 | 7 | 2| | |
|MF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Vladimirs Babičevs | 22.04.1968 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 1 |
|DF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Oļegs Blagonadeždins | 16.05.1973 | 2| | |||
|MF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Imants Bleidelis | 16.08.1975 | 24 | 8 | 2| | |
| | {{flagicon|GEO|1990}} Mamuka Cereteli | 13.01.1979 | 9 | 1 | 2| | |
|GK | {{flagicon|GEO|1990}} Davit Gvaramadze | 08.11.1975 | 6 | –7| | ||
|MF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Jevgeņijs Ilovaiskis | 22.10.1979 | 2| | |||
|GK | {{flagicon|LAT}} Oļegs Karavajevs | 13.02.1961 | 9 | –7| | ||
|MF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Vladimirs Koļesņičenko | 04.05.1980 | 1| | |||
|GK | {{flagicon|LAT}} Aleksandrs Koliņko | 18.06.1975 | 5 | 0 | 5| | |
|MF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Juris Laizāns | 06.01.1979 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|{{flagicon|LAT}} Vsevolods Līdaks | 22.10.1977 | 12 | 1 | | |||
|{{flagicon|LAT}} Valentins Lobaņovs | 23.10.1971 | 22 | 1 | 3| | ||
|{{flagicon|UKR}} Vladimir Mel'nyk | 21.11.1979 | 18 | 1 | 5| | ||
|FW | {{flagicon|RUS}}/{{flagicon|LAT}} Mihails Miholaps | 24.08.1974 | 25 | 20 | 1| | |
| | {{flagicon|LAT}} Iļja Novikovs | 12.08.1977 | 9 | 3 | | ||
|FW | {{flagicon|LAT}} Marians Pahars | 05.08.1976 | 26 | 19 | 1 | 1 |
|GK | {{flagicon|LAT}} Andrejs Piedels | 17.09.1970 | 8 | –8| | ||
|{{flagicon|UKR}} Aleksandr Pindejev | 03.03.1971 | 15 | 5 | 2 | | ||
|{{flagicon|UKR}} Vitaliy Rozghon | 23.03.1980 | 1| | ||||
|MF | {{flagicon|GEO|1990}} Alexander Rekhviashvili | 06.08.1974 | 17 | 1 | 2 | - |
|FW | {{flagicon|LAT}} Vits Rimkus | 21.06.1973 | 15 | 11| | ||
|MF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Andrejs Rubins | 26.11.1978 | 19 | 1| | ||
|DF | {{flagicon|GEO|1990}} Levan Silagadze | 04.08.1976 | 15 | 1 | 3 | | |
|{{flagicon|RUS}} Sergey Solovjov | 03.04.1978 | 9 | 4 | 3 | | ||
|DF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Igors Stepanovs | 21.01.1976 | 24| | |||
|3| | ||||||
|DF | {{flagicon|LTU}} Andrėjus Tereškinas | 10.07.1970 | 7 | 2 | 2 | | |
|DF | {{flagicon|LAT}} Mihails Zemļinskis | 21.12.1969 | 13| | |||
|1 | | ||||||
colspan=7 align=center|Manager: {{flagicon|LAT}} Aleksandrs Starkovs |
References
- [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/let98.html RSSSF]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090302094102/http://www.skontofc.lv/lat/lat_chemp/1998/ Skonto FC 1998]
{{Latvian Higher League seasons}}
{{1997–98 in European football (UEFA)}}
{{1998–99 in European football (UEFA)}}