1939–40_Latvian_Higher_League
1939–40 Latvian Higher League
Latvian football league season for the highest division
The 1939–40 football season was the 13th season of the Latvian Virsliga. It was also the last season of football in independent Latvia before its annexation by the Soviet Union (the last matches of the season were played with Latvia already being part of the USSR).
Season | 1939–40 |
---|---|
Champions | RFK 5th Virsliga title 8th Latvian title |
Relegated | RKSB |
Goals scored | 235 |
Average goals/game | 4.27 |
Top goalscorer | Fricis Kaņeps (15) Aleksandrs Vanags (15) |
Biggest win | RFK 11-0 RKSB |
Highest scoring | ASK 9-2 VEF (11 goals) RFK 11-0 RKSB (11 goals) |
← 1938–39 1940–41 → |
Every team played two games against each other team, one at home and one away. Teams received two points for a win and one point for a draw.
16.JAPSK were relegated to Zemgale league after losing additional matches for the 6-8th places in the previous Virsliga season against US and Hakoah Riga. They were replaced by the winner of the promotion battles VEF Riga who beat out Venstpils Spars in the decisive match for a Virsliga berth.
The battle for the title was mostly between the defending champions Olimpija Liepāja and the former champions RFK. Until midseason Hakoah Riga also kept up in the race but it fell back later in the season. Olimpija squad suffered a serious loss when five of its footballers were disqualified because of problems with discipline by the club for a longer period. Those included leading players like Roberts Heiblihs, Pēteris Jurčenko and Fricis Laumanis. Eventually the disqualification of Laumanis was shortened but both Jurčenko and Heiblihs missed out nearly the entire season. In their absence the young forward from Kuldīga Bērziņš became the club's leading goalscorer.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rīgas FK (C) | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 40 | 11 | +29 | 23 |
2 | Olimpija Liepāja | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 42 | 21 | +21 | 21 |
3 | ASK | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 40 | 26 | +14 | 16 |
4 | Hakoah Riga | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 21 | 25 | −4 | 15 |
5 | Rīgas Vilki | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 29 | 26 | +3 | 12 |
6 | VEF | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 26 | 39 | −13 | 10 |
7 | US | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 38 | −18 | 8 |
8 | RKSB | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 49 | −32 | 7 |
- 15 goals
- 13 goals
- 12 goals
- J.Bērziņš (Olimpija Liepāja)
- 10 goals
- Edgars Klāvs (US)
- Ēriks Raisters (RFK)
- 9 goals
- 8 goals
- Jānis Rozītis (VEF)
- Voldemārs Apsēns (Olimpija Liepāja)
- 7 goals
- Ernests Ziņģis (Olimpija Liepāja)
1. | RFK |
Goalkeepers: Herberts Briedis (12); Voldemārs Liepiņš (2). |
- Latvijas futbola vēsture by Miķelis Rubenis, Rīga, 2001