ERVĪNS PERKONS CREATES ANARCHY AGAINST MONARHS
26 / 09 / 2016
Monarhs-Flaminko 
Hat-trick hero Ervīns Pērkons gave the Monarhs’ defence a headache.
Date published: 26/09/2016 - 18:22
Riga United 3-2 Monarhs Flaminko
Pērkons,
16', 17', 80'
On Thursday night, Riga United created a shock and gave a great
boost to their chances of finishing 7th place in the league, as
they beat Monarhs-Flaminko 3-2 in their penultimate game of the
season.
This is the first time they have beaten Monarhs in two season and
United’s performance matched the scoreline but flattered Monarhs.
The hero of the night was Ervīns Pērkons as he cemented his place
as Riga United’s Top Goalscorer 2016, with one game left to go. He
scored a masterful hat-trick as the defence couldn’t find a way to
deal with him.
The opening stages of the game started tentatively for both teams
as they were trying get into the game. Monarhs’ started in
their typical aggressive manner and attempted to pressure the
United players. Niels Krause almost put Ervīns Pērkons
through with the first chance but Pērkons couldn’t quite get hold
of the pass.
It didn’t take Pērkons long to get on the scoresheet or indeed the
second goal as he had two goals in a minute, which put Monarhs into
shock. United tried to press Monarhs in their half throughout
the rest of the first half and looking for a break. The
pressuring didn’t always work as they would have wanted and they
gradually started to stand off Monarhs a bit. There was no real
tempo to the game but the opposition were starting to find their
way through but no real threat to goalie Zvējnieks.
Just after the half hour mark though, United let Monarhs back into
the game. A throw in came in and neither centre-back dealt with the
player as they failed to communicate and it was left for a simple
tap-in.
The first half was made worse and harder for the Black cats as
Slava Melņiks saw his first ever red card; after two yellows coming
in the space of about five minutes. But United would see out the
half 2-1 up.
Riga started the second half well, they kept compact in defense and
pressured well, all the time looking for a counter. Tireless
midfielder Niels Krause putting in a great display.
Monarhs were still looking to get through though, however, the
longer the half went, the more they were running out of ideas.
United weren’t comfortable but they didn’t look in danger. The game
started becoming stop-start as both teams were accumulating fouls.
But it was again United who struck first to make it 3-1 in the 80th
minute as Pērkons found his first Riga division hat-trick for
United.
United felt more comfortable and Monarhs more panicked as they
believed they could sweep aside United, no problem. They had
time for one more goal before full time as the ball came into the
United area. The United defender was clearly pushed over but wasn’t
deemed a foul, as all the players switched off and looked at the
referee, Monarhs got a second.
Man of the match:
Ervīns Pērkons took the plaudits on Thursday and quite rightly so.
His hat-trick will be remembered for three very well taken
goals but plus movement off the ball which constantly gave
defenders something to worry about.
The first goal came in the 16th minute with a lovely pass from the
midfield and fired home with a rocket from outside the area.
A minute later, he had his second as another great ball from
the midfield saw Ervīns get into the box and was fouled.
Pērkons stepped up and smashed it into the top corner.
His third goal will probably be the most appreciated one as it gave
United breathing space late on in the game. A cross came in
and it was almost Krause on the scoresheet as his header hit the
crossbar. The ball was not cleared well and given to Artūrs
Meistars who passed to Pērkons and again from outside the box, with
an excellent strike, gave the keeper no chance.
Finding form in the Midfield:
United have found strength this year from their midfield.
When they have everyone available, it is arguably among the
best midfields in the league. For the last two games, the
central midfield trio of Niels Krause, Fabio Possagno and Danilo
Sica have found a chemistry and basis to form possession into
attack very quickly.
United’s versatile central-midfield this season has shown time and
again they have been able to utilise any part of the field going
forward, whether it’s the wingers or forwards, their ability to
pass the ball or work on pressuring the opponent's midfield has
proven invaluable.
Going forward next season: This is an area this season that has
been developing the quickest. It could potentially become the
strongest point of Riga and will surely be worked on in the
'off-season'.
No protection from the Referee:
For the second game against Monarhs-Flaminko this season, it was
the same referee. And for the second time he gave some
bizarre decisions and seemed to be quite easily fooled by the sound
of the players’ scream to the floor rather than the challenge.
Even the crowd had noticed and started to do the screaming
for the Monarhs’ players.
Winger Edgars Arakelyans was given absolutely no protection from
the referee and was deliberately kicked every time he had the ball,
only one foul was blown against him. Ervīns Pērkons will now be
suspended for the final game of the season. It was a silly
challenge but not worthy of a card but the referee seemed to only
book the Monarhs’ player for what seemed like a straight push to
the ground of the the play was stopped.
Slava Melņiks’ sending off was unnecessary. The first yellow
was probably rightly given as he ‘spoke back’ to the referee, that
said, the second one can be considered very unlucky. There was no
intention on his part to even foul the player as was already in
another direction as the player went down but the referee seemed to
have other ideas.
Two of their players should have seen reds alone for their
dangerous challenges and ‘off-ball’ incidents.
Mo Awada, dismayed with the referee’s performance
commented: “I don't normally comment on referees but he was
exceptionally poor yesterday. I have no complaints about our red
card, Slava knows after the 1st yellow, he made a silly challenge
and got the 2nd yellow, however, if the ref was giving that a card,
at least 2 or 3 of their players should have seen red.”
Everyone in the league knows Monarhs’ has a disciplinary problem,
now incurring 11 reds and 49 yellow cards. The second year
they have been at the bottom of the ‘table’ for worst discipline.
Surely, the RFF have to look at their inclusion in the league
for next year?
What the Manager said?
Speaking the day after the game, Mo Awada said: “The lads
were outstanding yesterday, it wasn’t pretty or the best football
we have played but the pure grit and determination in wanting to
win a football match really came through and I couldn't have asked
for more.”
The back 4 were fantastic, midfield ran all night. Ervīns
[Pērkons] will get all the credit for 3 wonderful goals but I think
Niels [Krause] deserves a lot of credit, he didn't stop all night.
He was playing 2-3 roles and getting forward to support
Ervīns, I think he was super.”
“We talked about hard work before the game and everyone of
the 14 guys gave that. Now we rest for a few days and prepare for
our last game of the season.”