TWO CONTROVERSIAL PENALTIES SEES LIEPĀJA TAKE VICTORY
29 / 05 / 2016
FK Liepāja 
United were handed a harsh 4-0 loss at the hands of FK Liepāja in the torrential rain.
Date published: 29/05/2016 - 14:51
FK Liepāja 4-0 Riga United FC Ladies
Just as the match started, the threatening storm came and the
heavens opened. Amongst terrible weather conditions an
understrength team carrying injuries and some very debatable
refereeing decisions (to be fair - for both teams), Riga United
came away from Liepāja feeling the 4-0 loss.
With the squad available, this was always going to be difficult for
Riga United. Manager Justin Walley asked of the team for discipline
in, for most, their new positions. Riga almost got off to a
flying start, when in the 15th a well played through ball was
played for Liene Vāciete, however she was unable to convert the
one-on-one. Riga didn’t have much time to contemplate what
could have been though, as Tarasova was in a similar situation down
the other end a minute later and also missed.
Liepāja settled though and soon played their football. Riga
United were still trying to find their way and it was enough for
Riga to lose possession in the midfield and in 4 moves, it was 1-0
Liepāja. United could count themselves unlucky for the second as
Tami Berish was tussling with Tarasova for the ball in United’s
area and as the ball took a bounce, it struck Berish’s hand and the
ref pointed to the spot. Aina Bikše dived the right way but
the penalty was well struck to make it 2-0.
Riga United had another chance with a brilliant break and through
ball for Jevgenija Arzubova to get onto but again, a one-on-one
chance was wasted. IT was 3-0 before half time as Liepāja held the
ball outside the box and what clearly looked like a cross, found
its way into the goal.
For the second half, Dasha Levikina was introduced for an injured
Tami Berish, which meant further alterations to the team. But
it was a spirited fight in the second half for the ladies.
Liepāja were in a strong dominant position from this point on
but Riga stuck to the plan well and made it difficult for Liepāja
to play the direct style, taking out the wings.
Liepāja did, however, have one last say on the matter. Most
of the match had been somewhat frustrating for the United coaching
staff as time and again, it seems the referee wasn’t prepared to
give cards out to Liepāja for a number of challenges which looked
like elbows flying in. That said, Riga United were lucky to
finish with 11 players on the field as defender Pia Foosnaes , who
earlier in the game received a yellow, was also lucky to stay on
the field. Including an incident which led to the fourth goal.
As Foosnaes took on the Liepāja player, a fair challenge was
made but the most obvious dive was made and to the amusement of
everyone with Riga United it was awarded. Again Bikše dived to the
right, this time almost getting a touch on the ball but couldn’t
quite make it.
United almost got a consolation goal towards the end as
United dug deep and really played to the formation in the last 15
minutes. Vāciete did well to get to the ball on the right hand side
and got a cross in for Levikina to be on the back post and control
her shot well but the goalie saved.
The match has served as a good learning curve for the ladies and
the manager. Liepāja all-in-all did deserve to win and this
shouldn’t be taken away from them but it was truly a game where
United can rue the chances they missed to be in the game. They lost
the ball too much in the centre of the field, which is something
likely to be addressed; though it's not an excuse for Riga the
majority of the decisions and luck went against them.
Considering most players were playing new positions, Walley
was disappointed but proud of the team. "Coaches often like to say
their players gave 100% or ''110%' and perhaps sometimes this
phrase is overused. But in all my years of coaching and indeed
playing this was one of the most hard fought displays I have ever
been involved in. Tami Berish played 45 minutes at fullback - a
position she has never played in - and unbeknown to me until half
time (when we were forced to take her off), was actually playing in
tears because she was carrying an injury that was causing her so
much pain. Our other 'emergency' full back Leonie Kohlsaat played
90 minutes when truthfully the injury she was carrying should have
meant she didn't travel at all. And yet, these two girls kept the
Tarasova sisters [Anastasija and Jeļena] quiet for the majority of
the game! Marit Gjerde played central defence for the first time in
her life and looked like she had played there all her life. Further
up the pitch Ronja [Penkkala] and Jevgenija [Arzubova] both took
horrible blows to their heads but got themselves back in the game
as soon as they could. Aina [Bikše], who shouldn't have played due
to injury and who also played the full 90 so we could get through
this fixture. She could barely walk at the end but still made a
good save late on. Many players would not have returned after those
injuries.
Youth team player Marte Gronvold played the whole 90 minutes for
us. In the past she has only had a few minutes as sub and for her
to come in and run her socks off for one and a half hours and play
as well as she did was a joy to see. And then there was our keeper,
So, you see what I mean about the girls giving 100%. I haven't even
mentioned players like Liene [Vāciete] and Linda [Kazlauska] who
ran and ran and worked until they were pink in the face for 90
minutes. I learnt a lot of new things about this group of players
this weekend and all of them were positives."