Liepāja midfielder Rodolphe Ekou said he was “very happy” to score the first goal of his professional career, but admitted the Virsliga draw with Jelgava earlier in the week left the squad frustrated.
Ekou struck in the second half to secure a 1-1 result after Liepāja conceded early, and the holding midfielder said the team had targeted a win.
“Yes, of course. We were thinking only about victory,” Ekou said. “Jelgava are a good team, they know how to defend. But in any case, Liepāja have to beat an opponent like that. That’s why the disappointment is bigger.”
Asked why Liepāja have again fallen behind at the start of a match, Ekou said it was difficult to explain.
“It’s very unpleasant to concede so quickly. It immediately makes the game even harder,” he added. “We have to put in a lot of effort just to equalise. Maybe we lack concentration and we take too long to get into the match.”
Ekou felt Liepāja created more chances than in previous games, particularly after the break.
“It was good to see that the team created moments and kept the opponent under pressure, especially in the second half,” he said. “We played with intensity, we pressed and we won the ball back quickly. Unfortunately we didn’t take the chances we needed to take.”
The 20-year-old Ivorian said his goal came from a set-piece routine the team have worked on in training.
“It was a corner. The ball was played to the near post, Patrikejevs flicked it on,” Ekou said. “I saw where it was going and, for some reason, nobody picked me up. I got into position and hit it with my left foot. I’m very happy I found the target.”
Ekou insisted Liepāja’s attacking players will start converting opportunities, saying the side need sharper final passes into the penalty area.
“We have very good players going forward. I don’t doubt they will score,” he said. “Maybe we lack that last pass into the box. We need more of them and they need to be more incisive.”
Ekou also described his role as providing value in every phase of play.
“That is my job. It’s my mentality – I have to help the team in every moment,” he said. “I have to win every duel, and if I don’t, I’m not happy with myself.”
He added that he was not feeling fatigue after a busy display in midfield, as well as having played every game of the season this far in full.
“No, no problem. I don’t feel tired at all. I could work for another half, or even another match,” he said.
Liepāja travel to Tukums on Friday at 17:30, with Ekou saying the team need to return to winning ways.
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Source: https://fkliepaja.lv/lv/2026/04/15/rodolphe-ekou-paspet-visur-tas-ir-mans-uzdevums/
