RIVALS CLASH AHEAD OF BUSY WEEK FOR UNITED
22 / 08 / 2016
SK Upesciems 
United are looking to build on last week’s win.
Date published: 22/08/2016- 13:58
SK Upesciems vs Riga United FC
Kick off: 22/08/2016 - 19:00
It’s a busy week ahead for the Boys in Red as they face SK
Upesciems in the first of three fixtures this week. With the
squad strength still at a stretch due to injuries and players still
away, this week will no doubt prove a tough challenge and shape the
season going into the last month.
Upesciems is Riga United’s oldest continuous rivalry to date.
Having played each other for fours years consecutively.
This game has added spice as the Black Cats are two places
and three points ahead of Upesciems. A win tonight for United
will put them back in the mix and put pressure on teams above them.
This fact hasn’t gone amiss with Player/Coach Graham
Williams: “Tonight is a chance to close the gap on the teams above
us, if results go our way and we do our job we will also climb the
table. That said, Upesciems always present a challenge and this
time will be no different.”
United won the first leg of this season 1-0 and Riga will be
looking to achieve the first double over Upesciems in the club’s
history. The first score was relatively low, however, these
two have a good records of goals in a game with an avg. of 7 per
games played.
Riga are looking to build on last week’s victory. They played
excellently against a tough Babīte side and know Upesciems well, so
they will hope for a similar result. They know what they must
do and especially in stopping Upesciems’ midfield and attacking
threats. United found ways through Babīte when they stuck to their
own style of play. Too often they tended to panic last week
and if they can keep that to a minimum, they have a very good
chance of coming away with three points this evening.
Williams knows what to expect from Upesciems and United will need
to start this match as they did against Babīte: ““We know what to
expect so we have no excuses for not putting in a hard working
performance that can bring home 3 points.”
Team News: The team remains largely the same, however, there
have been a few changes. Sadly Cyril Taudiere is unavailable,
though, Riga United welcome back Alex Gemin. Also in terms of
attacking, striker Jānis Pakalns is back in the fold. Williams
stated: “We have a few last minute changes to the squad, including
the return of Jānis Pakalns, who will be a big plus for us.”