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UNITED UNDONE BY CLINICAL FORTUNA

07 / 05 / 2016

FK Fortūna / Ogre
5 : 0 View report
Riga United FC

10-man Riga United suffer a loss in their opening match, after going down 5-0 away to FK Fortūna/Ogre.

Date published: 07/05/2016 - 15:10

Riga United must curse their luck in this league and against Fortuna as they never seem to have an easy time against them.  This occasion was no different, with a few injuries before the game and a sending off on the half hour mark, it made life difficult.

With a new look team Riga United wanted to get out of the blocks and pressure Fortuna and for the first 15mins it looked possible, however, Fortuna saw to it that they would be the ones trying to control this game.  They got their opening goal in the 18th minute.  It went downhill from there as Murat Kelkit, the Riga United goalie, was sent off in the 30th minute.  Leaving left-back Paul Gloria Andrez to go between the sticks. This was not the start Riga were hoping for.  However, they managed to settle the game down and show some promising signs, hoping to go into half time 1-0 down but a goal from Fortuna in the 40th, put the home team in a commanding position.    

In the second half, Riga showed Fortuna, what they might be capable of if things went their way.  Containing Fortuna for the majority of the 2nd half. Though, Fortuna sealed the win with the 3rd goal 5mins after half time in the 50th minute and then with tired legs and frustration kicking in, this led to mistakes and 2 more goals were put away by Fortuna in the 87th and 89th minute respectively.

Riga United will be disappointed with this game as it was a chance to show the league what they can do.  Outside elements did play a factor but Riga need to step up a gear if they are to cause upsets against bigger teams this season. They will have a chance to redeem themselves, next game on Thursday 12th May as they take on defending champions FC Caramba Riga in their first home game of the season.

After the game, the RUSG caught up with player/coach Aleks Alunāns for a quote. He was sympathetic but is ready to see improvements in the up and coming games: “Of course it is quite a difficult start to the season, but hats off to Fortuna they were very clinical in attack. We started the match a bit nervous, but we were slowly gaining possession in their half. Unfortunately the defense struggled with their direct counter attacks, and by the time we had conceded the first goal they had already created a few chances. The sending off was the result of this pressure continuing, and from there it was always going to be an uphill battle


Credit to our team we came out fighting and contained them well, even threatening their goal a few times. There are a lot of factors at play in this defeat but the bottom line is that we're were not good enough, and we will have to improve against a strong opponent next week.”