Once again between UEFA Conference league games Valmiera FC played their Virsliga match. This time FK Metta traveled to Jana Dalina stadium. The opponents had their lead but two extra quick goals assure that Valmiera FC would pull off a comeback and win with 2:1 as the final score.
The weather was hot, so it was expected that the game would be hard. A fight for third place in the standings and the potential to earn a tenth win of the season for Valmiera.
The kick-off revealed that the weather would play a role in this match. The game was slow and not as action-packed as people would’ve hoped for. Two chances but both from long-range by Pape Yare Fall and Alioune Ndoye, Janis Beks managed to turn these balls away.
Metta offered rare scoring chances and if Klavs Lauva mastered the first one, a goal did follow later on. A quick opportunity with a counter-attack, a kick by Mikus Vasilevskis in the far corner, Lauva reached the ball but couldn’t stop it.
In the first half, Jurgis Kalns was forced to replace Daniels Balodis with Roberts Veips, but for the second half, Niks Sliede was replaced by Tiago Barbosa for whom this was the debut at the highest level of Latvian football – a brand new set of center-backs for Valmiera.
Suddenly the football looked more dynamic – attacks, fast runs, crosses – you could see it all on the pitch. Finally – a chance for a goal. Ndoye was tripped in the penalty area by Beks and VAR review followed. It was time for a penalty kick. Alvis Jaunzems used his experience and sent the ball in the corner of the goal, the goalkeeper did read the kick but couldn’t block the ball from entering his goal.
Just moments later a perfect substitution was made – Leo Gaucho stepped on the pitch, elected to switch into the attack and after receiving the ball he assured that the goalkeeper would be beaten for the second time and the final result of the game had been registered – 2:1.
In the final minutes of the game, Metta attempted to make a come-back of their own but after their efforts and an error by Adel Ghanem a little nervousness was brought upon Valmiera but the lead was protected to earn very important three points.
Our next game will be played on Thursday (10.08) when the team will travel to Riga, and play their UEFA Conference league 3rd round qualifier first leg at Skonto stadium against FK Partizani from Albania.
