The 21st round game of the Tonybet futbola Virsliga at the Janis Dalins Stadium against Riga FC was the last for Valmiera FC captain Daniel Balodis, who will continue his career in the capital club FC RFS. Farewell to the club where Daniel spent the last four years of his career was almost perfect, except for the conceded goal in the last seconds of the game and only one instead of three points gained.
The team of Gatis Kalniņš started the game against Riga with the lineup of the previous game, however, with one big loss in the person of center back Niks Sliede, who will miss at least three months due to injury. Nick’s place in the starting eleven was taken by Kristers Penkevics.
The first goal in this match was scored in the 20th minute of the game, when Andriy Korobenko unsuccessfully put the ball into his own goal after an opponent’s cross. A deep indignation was caused by the episode a few seconds earlier, when the foul was not whistled against Jeremy Porsan-Clemente.
After the lost goal, the attack of the Valmiera became more lively, this time Renārs Varslavāns was particularly active in it, throwing the Riga defenders to the right and left several times.
If in the first the home team was unable to unlock the Nils Puriņš goal, then in the second the efforts were crowned with success. First, in the 52nd minute of the game, Alioune Ndoye equalized the score after Jeremi’s raid on the left flank and a pass to the goal. After 13 minutes, Ndoye already put his team in the lead when Varslavāns, as a gift to his best friend, crossed the ball precisely on forwards head – 2:1.
In the continuation of the game, Valmiera did not relax in the formation of the attack, but with every minute the pressure of the guests on the goal of Davis Ošs was more obvious. Dāvis also made one super save when he put the ball over the goal with an amazing kick from Ngena’s close range. However, he was not the savior either, nor were his teammates in the defense, when Gauthier Mankenda concluded the cross from Eduards Dašķėvičs with a header in the time allowed by the referee – 2:2.
Such a turn of the game proves once again the unpredictability of this sports game – everything can change in the blink of an eye.
Valmiera will play its next game on July 6, at 18:00 at Skonto Stadium in Riga against FK Auda.
