Latvia international Dario Šits and Estonia midfielder Martin Vetkal suffered their first league defeat of the season on Friday evening as FC Dordrecht were beaten 1-0 at home by Roda JC in the Dutch second tier. Meanwhile, Latvia U-21 winger Markuss Strods came off the bench as Bohemians claimed an entertaining 5-3 victory over Derry City in the League of Ireland Premier Division.
Both 22-year-olds, Šits and Vetkal, retained their places in Dordrecht’s starting line-up for the third consecutive league match. The visitors scored the only goal of the game in the 22nd minute, when Australian midfielder Joshua Nisbet found the net.
Šits played the full 90 minutes and registered three shots on goal, all with his head, while Vetkal featured for 84 minutes before being substituted. The Estonian midfielder also received a yellow card, his second of the league campaign.
The defeat was Dordrecht’s first of the new season, leaving them with four points from their opening three league matches. They return to action next Friday with an away trip to Volendam.
In Ireland, 19-year-old Latvia U-21 international Markuss Strods was introduced from the bench in the 82nd minute as Bohemians secured a thrilling 5-3 home victory over Derry City.
Although his playing time has decreased slightly compared to the first half of the season, Strods has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Bohemians’ first team, making 17 league appearances while contributing two goals and four assists.
The victory strengthens Bohemians’ grip on third place in the League of Ireland Premier Division. They remain seven points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers and trail second-placed St Patrick’s Athletic by three points.
Bohemians will be back in action next Friday when they host bottom-placed Sligo Rovers.
