RFS did not manage to hold on to their lead, conceding a last-minute equaliser to Paide and failing to secure their fourth win in four pre-season matches.
The Latvian vice champions travelled to Paide for the second time in the past week, having beaten Nõmme Kalju there the Saturday before. This time, they faced the local side Paide Linnameeskond.
The Estonian side started strongly as William Lins put them ahead in the 15th minute by faking a shot to free himself from Mikaze Nagasawa and slotting it precisely into the bottom-left corner.
Nagasawa quickly repaid for his sloppy defending by ending up at the end of Roberts Savaļnieks’ cross and scoring a diving header at the back post to make it 1:1.
Both teams exchanged some more shots before Modou Saidy gave RFS the lead with a perfectly executed volley from outside the box just before the break. The Gambian controlled the outgoing ball with his chest, placing it on a plate for his left foot as he curled it in from the air.
As already established this pre-season, RFS changed almost their whole XI going into the second half. The line-up included the Virsliga golden boot winner Darko Lemajič, who made his first appearance this year.
This team proved to be more dangerous in attack as Žiga Lipušček, Lasha Odisharia, and Cedric Kouadio all threatened the opponent’s goal with shots.
Mamadou Sylla was also very active. Playing on the right wing, Sylla created two great goalscoring opportunities, finding his fellow countryman Kouadio twice in a great position on the edge of the box. However, on both occasions, he failed to convert.
Kouadio failed to finish for the third time in the game after intercepting Paide defender’s pass and missing the one-v-one opportunity, putting the ball just past the post in the 89th minute.
This was a chance he later wished he had converted, as Paide quickly reorganized and scored from their last attack of the game. Paide’s new winter signing Momodou Jobareth skipped past Niks Dusalijevs and put in a cross to the far post that was then headed in the path of Kristofer Piht, who smashed it in the top corner to clinch a last-minute equaliser.
A bad day in the “new office” for Dusalijevs…
Niks Dusalijevs had just signed a contract with RFS two days prior. His first match as an official player of RFS did not go to plan, though.
Subbed on in the middle of the first half, Dusalijevs missed a great opportunity to score after Nagasawa’s pass. He took too long as the keeper was already too close to him before he had a shot from close distance that was eventually saved.
The miss was quickly forgotten after Saidy’s goal, but Dusalijevs was once again in the spotlight at the start of the sequence from which Paide scored the equaliser.
RFS pressed high up the field, and Dusalijevs was too late to close out his man as the young Gambian Jobareth got past him with ease.
Viktors Morozs’ loud swearing on the touchline already was an indicator that something bad was about to happen. And it did as RFS conceded and gave up a win.
Other than that, Dusalijevs’ start to his time at RFS has been great. The 24-year-old Latvian has featured in every pre-season game so far, constantly threatening the opponents with crosses and shots from distance. Could he be the Savaļnieks’ successor RFS are looking for?
Beks’ heroics in goal
Apart from the last-minute goal RFS conceded, Jānis Beks showcased his qualities in the 45 minutes he was given in the 2nd half.
The Metta academy graduate made two massive saves to deny an earlier equaliser from Paide and overall showed a confident game in between the posts.
The 23-year-old Latvian keeper joined RFS in 2024 but has yet to make a single first-team appearance, having spent time out on loan at both FK Tukums and BFC Daugavpils.
What next for RFS?
Wednesday, January 28: FK TransINVEST, away, friendly, 1pm EET
What next for Paide?
Saturday, January 31: FK Metta, home, friendly, 3pm EET
