Day 10 of Turkey training camp was spent in a football manner – Valmiera FC played two exhibition games against two different opponents. In the first match, the team met with FC Rukh Lviv – Ukraine Premier league team to which we lost with a score of 0:2, in the second game we managed to draw against FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih – 1:1 the final score.
In the first game of the day, a line-up filled with many young players went out to show what they were capable of. Early on it looked like the edge of the game belonged to us, still our error caused FC Rukh Lviv team to take the lead in the 4th minute of the match, one of the players managed to get to the ball and run away with it to assure that a goal would be scored. For the rest of half lots of battles in mid-field but nothing substantial in either of the ends.
Another not-so-great start in the second half – 47th minute brought a penalty shot from 11 meters which were taken advantage of to make it 2:0 in the game. Our opportunity shortly after was missed allowing the opponent to remain up by two goals. In the remaining time, Valmiera FC players tried to pull off a comeback but it didn’t happen giving Rukh Lviv side a well-deserved victory.
Starting 11 vs FC Rukh Lviv: Vjaceslavs Kudrjavcevs, Olgerts Rascevskis, Kristers Neilands, Daniels Balodis, Rudolfs Zengis, Maksims Tonisevs, Ivan Zhelizko, Vladimirs Stepanovs, Eriks Punculs, Kristers Lusins, Kristians Kauselis.
Substitutes: Klavs Lauva, Valeri Chupin, Artjems Saboha, Ibrahima Sow, Ingars Pulis.
In the second match of the day, a very strong line-up was sent on the pitch. Our goalie had work to do early on as in 4th-minute opponents presented themselves with a scoring chance. Otherwise, Valmiera FC controlled the ball more. On a rare counter, Matrevics managed to keep the score at level, meanwhile, our control of the game didn’t lead to anything really dangerous in the opposite penalty area.
In the second half FC KryvbasKryvyi players came out and demonstrated more activity and when things looked like they had shifted Alvis Jaunzems showed his capabilities rushing into the penalty area and shooting the ball into the far side of the net – a very beautiful goal for our left-back. The game went back and forth which led to a tie following a kick from a distance by one of our opponents – Matrevics tried to save it but couldn’t reach the ball. Neither side could score in the remaining time which meant that the game would end with a score of 1:1.
Starting 11 vs FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih: Rihards Matrevics, Pape Fall, Roman Yakuba, Roberts Veips, Alvis Jaunzems, Masaki Murata, Djibril Gueye, Daisuke Yokota. Luka Silagadze, Niks Dusaslijevs, Raimonds Krollis.
Substitutes: Klāvs Lauva, Camilo Mena, Alioune Ndoye, Vladimirs Stepanovs, Olgerts Rascevskis, Ivan Zhelizko, Aleksandr Gapechkin.
Our next game will be played on February 17th when we will have the honor of playing against Dynamo Kyiv side. The match will begin at 16:00 Latvian time.
