Valmiera FC played its first test match in the pre-season preparation phase in Viljandi. After conceding a penalty kick, the team managed to fight back, but at the end of the match, they lost (1:2) against the Nomme Kalju team from Estonia following an own-goal situation.
The first half was very open with both teams attacking their opponents’ goals. Nemme Kalju footballers attacked more dangerously, trying to force our footballers to make mistakes. Already in the 6th minute of the game, we got behind when Daniels Balodis used his hands to knock down an opposing player in the penalty area, as a result of which an 11-meter penalty was awarded. The opponents took the opportunity and scored to make it 0:1.
After the goal, Valmiera also went forward, looking for opportunities – however, all efforts were either directed to the side of the pitch or unsuccessful shots that did not threaten the opponent’s goal. The opponents’ footballers were also better defensively in the corner kicks. Also at the end of the half, Klavs Lauva once again had to be involved in the game in order to keep the gap with a minimal advantage in favor of the home team.
In the second half, a completely new lineup took to the field, including six players that are on trial. The players who came to the pitch worked a lot with the ball, trying to force the opponent to defend, it also succeeded – the opponent got tired and a frame of mistakes was set off. In the 63rd minute of the game, a foul was committed against Jekabs Laguns, the player who was tripped at the edge of the penalty area. A dangerous free-kick followed – and the opportunity was taken, the ball was kicked past the wall in front and into the net.
Although we continued to dictate the events on the pitch, in one of the rare counterattacks the result became 1:2. After the throw-in, in a simple episode, the defender and goalkeeper of our team did not understand each other – trying to connect, the ball did not reach the desired destination, but slowly and calmly slid into our goal. At the end of the match, it was not possible to soak up the spilled water, which meant that we started the pre-season with a loss.
Our starting 11 vs Nomme Kalju: Klavs Lauva, Emils Birka, Daniels Balodis, Kristers Neilands, Maksims Tonisevs, Kristers Cudars, Ivans Zhelizko, Alvis Jaunzems, Niks Dusalijevs, Kristians Kauselis, Diop Meissa.
The players involved in the game from the bench: Roberts Veips, Pape Yare Fall, Oļgerds Rascevskis, Djibril Gueye, Ingars Pulis, Kristers Lusins, Jekabs Laguns, and five testable players.
Our next game is already on Sunday (29.01) when we will play the Livonia Cup match against the FC Flora team in Tallinn.
