Scoutmania

Gloria Sports Arena (Antalya, Turkey). Riga FC met Ukrainian Premier League club FC Oleksandriya in a friendly faceoff – which ended with a deserved two-goal win for the Latvian team, after making a comeback in the second half (1-3).

Both FC Oleksandriya and Riga FC are in their Turkey based training camp; the Ukrainian team defeated Georgian club FC Iberia 1999 in its previous test match (3-1), while the Latvians on the other side won by three goals over Montenegrin OFK Petrovac (3-0) six days ago – so the pre-match predictions were indicating an exciting encounter.

The competing teams ‘mirrored’ each other in terms of the starting shapes; FC Oleksandriya (led by Ruslan Rotan, who is Ukraine’s fifth-most capped player of all time) and Riga FC (under the guidance of its Slovakian, one-time champion coach Adrián Guľa) both started the clash in 4-2-3-1 formation. The match was played at a great tempo, with some excellent individual player decisions and solutions.

In the 43rd minute of play, FC Oleksandriya took advantage of an opposition ball loss and of the short-term disorder of Riga FC defense, and Ivan Kalyuzhnyi was the one who found the net by his left-footed effort at the end (1-0). In the 52nd minute, after Riga FC coach ‘shook up’ his team, Raivis Jurkovskis scored an equalizer by his wonderful right-footed volley made from 16 metres (1-1). This goal absolutely gave massive boost for the Latvian team; in the 69th minute, the well-performing Brazilian midfielder Iago Siqueira took the lead for Riga, with a left-footed shot, executed inside the opposition box (1-2). It was not the last hit of the game, because Riga FC Ghanaian defender Baba Musah made the difference to two by his header performed in the 85th minute (1-3). FC Oleksandriya got a chance to improve the score, by taking a penalty in the extra-time – but this big opportunity was missed.

The best potential players in my opinion:

Juan Alvina (FC Oleksandriya), right winger born 2003.

Juan, Brazilian winger of the team, played in the first half of the encounter. An inverted winger, with great agility and quickness on the ball, who is technically highly gifted too. Strong at dribbling; controls the ball with his ‘Brazilian elegance’. Demonstrated good intensity at pressing play, as well as high level of determination. Prefers the big empty areas ahead and also likes to receive the balls there. Energetic player with electric pace, was able to use his rapidity and his technique effectively at the attacks led on his flank.

Mateus Amaral (FC Oleksandriya), right winger/midfielder born 2004.

Mateus, another dynamic and promising left-footed (right) winger from Brazil, came on to the pitch in the 67th minute – and started his play immediately with a great through pass. He is a fairly energetic and mobile player, who also has excellent technical abilities and readiness. Was able to demonstrate spectacular control on the ball while being a serious threat when started to dribble with it. A fast-paced one, always tried to be in motion. As having good kicking technique, he can be a superb choice for set piece taker roles (free-kicks mainly).

Iago Siqueira (Riga FC), defensive/central midfielder born 2000.

Also Riga FC had a Brazilian ‘best potential player‘ in its team; Iago should be highlighted as the man of the match. He is a quite tall player with very good physical structure and strength – so no wonder that he could handle the physical pressure of his opponents properly. A quite confident player, who was able to gain (or regain) the possession on both halves of the pitch. Demonstrated excellent off the ball movements and positional play, in addition to showcasing his promising playmaking abilities. Changed the game’s tempo and fluidity to a higher level; scored a goal in the 69th minute, by a great left-footed shot.

To FOLLOW also FC Oleksandriya left-back Oleksandr Martynyuk (2001) and left wingers Tedi Cara (Albanian, 2000) & Oleksandr Belyaev (1999); and Riga FC Brazilian striker Reginaldo Ramires (2001), Ghanaian left-back/left centre-back Baba Musah (1999) and left winger Eduards Daškevičs (2002).

Other players (from older age groups) also can be highlighted, because of their good performance and important presence; FC Oleksandriya left centre-back Artem Shabanov (1992) and Riga FC Congolese right winger Gauthier Mankenda (1997).

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