Reigning Champions Riga FC were pushed all the way by their second-tier nemesis Leevon PPK before limping into the Latvian Cup quarter-finals with a laboured 3-2 away win at LNK Sporta Parks. In an earlier match, Metta came from behind to beat Spēks VSS 3-1.
Still looking to steady themselves after a defeat in Yerevan three days earlier, Riga FC fell behind in the 13th minute when Niklāvs Treimanis put Leevon PPK in front following a brilliant move. Riga responded before the break, but it took Caio and newly back from loan Taiwo to turn the tie around, with Brazilian forward Abner adding a third early in the second half to make it 3-1.
Undeterred by an almost EUR 15.5 million squad value gap as per transfermarkt data, Leevon PPK, spurred on by an ever enthusiastic home crowd, mounted late pressure and pulled a goal back from a set-piece in stoppage time through Olivers Kellers, but Riga just about managed to hold on. The hosts finished with 10 men when Vadims Sņegovs was shown a red card in the eighth minute of added time.
This was the third time that Riga FC and Leevon PPK met in the Latvian Cup in the last four years, with Riga FC winning all fixtures, 5-0, 4-0 and now 3-2.
Noteworthy, Riga handed a first appearance in goal to 22-year-old Greek goalkeeper Athanasios Papadoudis, while Meissa Diop was the only starter who had featured in the recent match in Armenia.
Earlier in the evening, Metta came from behind to beat Spēks VSS 3-1. Andris Riherts’ side trailed at half-time after conceding an early penalty, but two goals from Sellou Jallow and a second-half spot-kick by Daniils Čiņajevs completed the turnaround.
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Source: https://sportacentrs.com/futbols/citi_latvijas_turniri/10072026-leevon_ppk_teju_pusstundu_vadiba_pret_rig
