Valmiera FC recorded three more convincing victories in the LVBET League during August. First came a 4–1 win in the North Vidzeme derby away to Smiltene, followed by another 4–1 victory over Mārupe at Jānis Daliņš Stadium on the day a major storm swept across Latvia. The month was then rounded off in emphatic fashion with a 6–1 victory in Rēzekne.
Once again, the two teams in Smiltene produced an entertaining football spectacle, although it was the visitors who took centre stage. In the 11th minute, Mamadou Dembélé scored arguably Valmiera’s most spectacular goal of the season so far, finding the top corner with an acrobatic scissor kick while facing away from goal. A beauty.
Less than nine minutes later, Vladimirs Stepanovs stunned the hosts with a powerful long-range strike to make it 2–0. With around ten minutes remaining before half-time, Mārcis Ērglis reacted quickest to a loose ball following a corner and extended the lead to 3–0.
Valmiera eased off slightly after the break, giving the hosts an opportunity to respond. Smiltene are well known throughout Latvian football for their fighting spirit and refusal to give up, often producing remarkable comebacks and late equalisers. There would be no such scenario this time, however. Renārs Rāms did pull one back, although Valmiera defender Lenny Manisa also had to take some responsibility after taking one risk too many with the ball close to his own goal.
Dembélé had the final word. In the closing stages, he was left completely unmarked from a corner routine and converted Fraj Kairmani pass to seal a 4–1 victory.
The August 22 fixture against Mārupe was approached with caution right up until kick-off, as a major storm was causing widespread damage across Latvia that day. Fortunately, it never truly reached Valmiera — or, if it did, it had already lost much of its strength.
On the rain-soaked pitch at Jānis Daliņš Stadium, the two teams were able to produce the kind of football every fan wants to see — fast-paced, fiercely contested and full of committed challenges. Mārupe had clearly travelled to Valmiera looking for all three points, but Gatis Kalniņš’s side had exactly the same objective.
After an intense opening half-hour, the breakthrough finally arrived in the 30th minute. Toki Yamamura was fouled inside the penalty area, allowing Kairmani to convert from the spot. The Japanese right-back seemed to be everywhere on the pitch and was involved again shortly before half-time, providing the assist for Rojs Bušs to make it 2–0.
At the very beginning of the second half, Kairmani demonstrated his leadership qualities once again. With the opposition unable to react, the Tunisian was first to a rebound from the goalkeeper and headed the ball into the net for 3–0.
Much like in Smiltene, a positional error in the Valmiera defence allowed the visitors to pull one back with ten minutes remaining. Yet once again, the final word belonged to Valmiera — and once again to Dembélé. A superb cross from Yamamura found the striker, who applied the finishing touch to complete another 4–1 victory.
Ahead of the trip to Rēzekne, both the players and coaching staff knew exactly what kind of conditions and match awaited them — and their expectations proved correct.
Playing attractive football on the natural-grass pitch was virtually impossible, and at times the contest resembled something closer to a scrappy game of rugby. The hosts’ approach was clear: prevent Valmiera from building any momentum by whatever means necessary. It worked well throughout the first half, while the condition of the pitch also made passing football extremely difficult.
Valmiera therefore adapted, opting for long balls towards the opposition penalty area. The tactic paid dividends throughout the match, with towering defender Ernests Kalniņš pushed forward to compete for aerial balls and knock them down for his teammates. That was exactly how Doudou opened the scoring in the 38th minute to make it 1–0.
A nervous end to the first half allowed Rēzekne to equalise, but after the restart Valmiera’s pressure continued to grow. It was only a matter of time before the hosts’ resistance finally broke.
And when it did, the goals came quickly.
In the 58th minute, Ernests once again won the aerial duel before Dembélé fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner — 2–1. Six minutes later, another header from Ernests redirected a cross into the path of Yamamura, who smashed the ball home for 3–1.
In the 69th minute, substitute Gleilson won a penalty almost immediately after entering the pitch, and Doudou converted it to make it 4–1. Just two minutes later, Doudou broke through the Rēzekne defence to complete his hat-trick — 5–1.
Finally, in the 78th minute, Gleilson added his name to the scoresheet. Ernests Kalniņš registered his remarkable fourth assist of the match, this time launching a long pass from his own half into the path of the rapid Brazilian, who finished the job for 6–1.
A dominant victory in a match that was far from as straightforward as the final score might suggest.
This Saturday, Valmiera FC returns to Jānis Daliņš Stadium for what could be the biggest match of the season so far, with perhaps the highest stakes of all — a direct battle for promotion to the Virslīga against our main rivals, FK Metta.
Both teams currently sit on 47 points, with Valmiera holding the advantage after winning the first meeting between the sides earlier this season.
Can they do it again?
We will find out in just a few days. Everyone is welcome to join us for the big match, with kick-off at 14:00.
See you at the stadium!
