Valmiera FC beat FK Auda 1:0 away at the Skonto Stadium in Riga in the 22nd round of the Tonybet futbola Virslīga.
In the absence of several (all!!!) central defenders of the main team, as they are being treated for injuries, in the game against Auda, the head coach of the team took a solution by entrusting this position to Maksims Toniševs and Andriy Korobenko. As it turned out, this duo was the determining factor in the outcome of the game – both of them handled their duties in defense flawlessly.
Another change last with the previous games was the return to the starting line-up of left fullback Carlos Duke. Carlos also succeeded in this game, making every effort to organize the attack and suppressing the opponent’s offensive.
The only goal of the game was scored at the very beginning, when in the 3rd minute the ball went to Jeremie Porsant-Clemente after a mistake by an Auda player, after a moment he dribbled past the last defender, tricked the goalkeeper and passed the ball to an open partner Renārs Varslavāns who put it into the emty net – 1: 0 .
In overall, neither team was able to seriously threaten the goal of their opponents throughout the game. It was marked by good duels and unyielding fighting, many blocked shots and good defense by both teams.
Only at the very end of the game did Valmiera have a chance to increase the score difference, when Jason Bahamboula, who had recently been subbed on, first hit the goalpost, but then managed to get a chance for his teammate to send the ball into the goal from the penalty spot – Alioune Ndoye shot was saved this time by Krišjānis Zviedris.
A difficult, exhausting victory, but very valuable, it was recognized after the game by both the coaches and the players of our team.
Valmiera FC will continue its season journey on July 14 with the first game in the 11.lv Latvian Cup, playing away at 18.00 against FK Tukums 2000/Telms.