The 23rd round of the Tonybet Virslīga took place in the Janis Dalins stadium, the duel between coaches Gatis Kalniņš and Viktors Dobrecovs, or Valmiera vs. Grobiņa.
Still looking for ways to patch up the holes in Valmiera’s defensive center, the second team’s captain Ņikita Cepeļevs earned a call-up in this game. In his debut in the Virslīga, the 18-year-old defender was quite convincing until he was forced to leave the field due to an injury in the 59th minute of the game, and as it was later revealed in the tests after the game – a rupture of the cruciate ligament and no football for at least nine months.
This day was not the most successful for any of the players of the home team, but it turned out excellent for Grobiņa’s goalkeeper Artem Malysh, who was more than involved in the game, saving his team from losing a goal several times.
It was his first game this season after the recovery of injury for Roberts Veips, who subbed on in the second half replacing Ņikita.
Team captain Jeremie Porsan-Clemente did not appear to be the savior this time either, replacing the energetic Jason Bahamboula in the 65th minute of the game.
The players of Grobiņa withstood the pressure of Valmiera until the last whistle and for the second time this season took one point home from Valmiera.
Valmiera FC will meet the team from Kurzeme in the next round too, this time on away basis on July 28 (14:00) at the “Daugava” stadium they will face Tamaz Pertia and FK Liepāja.
