KLINCĀRS OPENS HIS ACCOUNT FOR UNITED WITH SECOND-HALF BRACE
30 / 07 / 2016
Olaine 
Two goals for Mārtiņš Klincāŗs in second half helped Riga on their way to a 5-0 'rout
Date published: 30/07/2016 -12:27
Riga United FC 5-0 Olaine
Melņiks, 8'
Arakelyans, 19'
Gouglou, 55'
Klincārs, 64', 69'
Riga United are back-on-track in the league, as they thrashed
Olaine 5-0 at home on Thursday night. Goals from Slava Melņiks,
Edgars Arakelyans, Karim Gouglou and two from Mārtiņš Klincārs was
enough to see the attacking players have a good night for United.
It was not all clear as the scoreline suggest though, no one truly
controlled the game and both teams looked complacent with the ball
throughout.
This was a game Riga United felt they had to win and
must, if they are to mount a challenge for the top six places this
year. They got off to a good start when, man-of-the-match,
Slava Melņiks got off the mark with beautifully placed lob over the
goalkeeper, on a half volley, as the ball came out of the box from
a Riga United corner in the 8th minute.
This was the start Mo Awada was looking for. However, United
switched off. Olaine started to look dangerous going forward and
had two chances in quick succession; one hitting the crossbar, the
other forcing Graham Williams into a save.
It was in the 19th minute though, that Riga United
doubled their lead. Going on a quick counter, Mārtiņš Klincārs
crossed the ball across the box and after having to fight a
defender, Edgars Arakelyans got enough to poke the ball home,
beating the scrambling goalkeeper. Marking his first goal for
United since his return.
This still didn’t get Riga into the next gear. They gave the ball
away too much, the midfielders, as a unit, didn’t come back and
support the defence enough. However, Olaine started to look like
they were running out of ideas and didn’t pose too much of a threat
in the end, despite a couple of dangerous looking corners.
The game got a little better for the spectator, going into
the last 15 minutes of the half, as Riga United started to find
some rhythm in their play. They were still not converting their
chances though. Just before half time, a great cross came in from
the right and Ervīns Perkons slid on the end of the cross only for
the ball to come off the post and bounce out.
Mo Awada would have been the happier of the two managers at half time. Overall, the 2-0 scoreline was a fair result but Riga hadn’t played that well and should have had a couple of more goals. This is what he had to say about the approach to the game: “We changed our formation in this game, with the aim of creating and scoring more goals than we had been. It seemed to have worked, as we scored 5 goals and it could and should have been a lot more. We hit the post or bar two times and had chances we should be putting away.”
It took Riga United 10 minutes after the restart to extend the lead. In the 55th minute, it was the ‘Moroccan Magician’ Karim Gouglou, who pounced on a loose ball in the area to make it 3-0.
By this point, Olaine started to look deflated and Melņiks almost got his second when he fired a free kick just outside the box, it beat the goalie but just came off the crossbar, something which seems to be a theme for Riga United this year.
The game had died down a little by this point and was almost running into lull, when after a good passing passage of play, Klincārs arrived in the box to put the ball away. Thinking he was offside, as did most of the players and fans, the referee and linesman judged otherwise and it was with a loud roar that Riga United realised they had their fourth of the game in the 64th minute. Klincārs showed his delight at getting his first goal for United.
One led to two, five minutes later, as again Riga United found themselves on the front foot and when Klincārs, with time and space on the left hand side of the field, he took the ball just inside the penalty area and with composure, slotted the ball passed the goalkeeper and in off the post to make it 5-0.
Despite the onslaught of goals in the second half, Riga United were not dominant in possession or playing some particularly beautiful football. Both teams seem to drift through this game without getting into any kind of permanent momentum. Graham Williams wasn’t kept busy in the second half; however, he was forced to make a fine save and keep the clean sheet towards the end of the game.
After the game, Mo Awada had this to say about his side’s performance: “On the whole I'm pleased; five goals, a clean sheet and three points but I know we can play better. We didn't control the game like we should have done. After the 5th goal, we lost our shape and tempo.”
“It’s funny. This is our biggest win of the season but I don't think it was our best performance. We have set the bar high this season and I expect us to perform up to those standards. Everyone played well and I'm so happy for Martins [Klincārs] to get off the mark, that will give him confidence. Edgars [Arakelyans] had his best game since returning. We move on to Dinamo Riga on Monday and as you know by now I really want to finally beat them.”
Man of the match: Slava Melņiks. He performed well in
midfield. All game he was tracking back well, creating a lot plays
and making good passes. This was Melņiks back to form. His
opening goal is a contender for goal of the season and the free
kick was unlucky not to go in. Awada said: “Slava, took his goal
very well and hard so hard in the middle”
Riga United Line up:
1. Graham Williams
2. Sofian Berrahal
3. Ahmed Elarag
4. Alex Gemin
5. Thadi Oumezdi
6. Slava Melņiks
7. Edgars Areaklyans
8. Fabio Possagno
9. Karim Gouglou
10. Ervīns Perkons
11. Mārtiņs Klincāŗs
Substitues:
Toms Cinglers, Alex Alunāns, Ede Schauer. Cyril Taudiere, Jānis
Pakalns