Latvian champions Riga FC continued their preparations for the upcoming Virslīga season with an impressive 3-1 victory over current Ukrainian Premier League leaders LNZ Cherkasy in a training camp friendly in Turkey.
Played in rainy conditions, Riga opened the scoring early when Reginaldo Ramires found Tunisian newcomer Raki Aouani inside the penalty area. The forward finished from the edge of the box to make it 1-0, registering his second goal of the preseason.
At the start of the second half, Anthony Contreras doubled the lead, putting the Latvian side firmly in control. Cherkasy managed to respond after an own goal by the Latvian side, but Riga sealed the result late on when another winter signing, Salah Oulad, converted after a well-timed assist from Brian Peña to make it 3-1.
The defeat marked Cherkasy’s only loss across nine friendly matches as they concluded their preparations for the second part of the domestic season.
In their previous match in Turkey, Riga suffered a narrow 1-2 defeat against another Ukrainian powerhouse, Shakhtar Donetsk. The club will play its final friendly of the camp in three days’ time against Moldovan side Petrocub.
Riga FC starting lineup vs LNK Cherkasy: Zviedris, Wassom, Černomordijs, Salazar, Ankrah, Jurkovskis, Varslavāns, Galo, Aouani, Contreras, Ramires.
