17/01/2010 - Latvian champion Liepajas Metalurgs has played their second game at the Commonwealth Cup in Russian capital Moscow. Their opponents were Belarusian team Dnepr from Mogilev.
Even scoring three goals hasn’t helped Latvian team to get even a draw, as they lost 3:4. This success booked Dnepr team place in play-offs, but Rudiger Abramczik side now has to overplay Kirgizstan champion Dordoi-Dinamo in their last game on the group stage.
It was a disaster start of the game for Metalurgs as Dnepr opened the score in the beginning of the match. But it was a short celebration for Belarussians as one of the most talented Latvian youth players, 18 year old Rakel equalized after Dnepr’s defensive mistake. Metalurgs finished the first half with the second goal when Kalov scored in his own net after aggressive play of Kalns.
There were a lot more goals in the second half. Metalurgs unexpectedly started to make one defensive mistake after another what helped opponents to score twice in 5 minutes time. Just 3 minutes from time Dnepr defenders made a foul on the same Rakel in a penalty area and last LMT Virsliga’s season best scorer Kristaps Grebis made it 3:3 from a penalty spot. But it was not enough even for a draw: Karpovich scored just a minute after Grebis strike from a corner helping his side to progress to the quarter-finals.
In the second game of the group Rubin won their first game at the tournament beating Dordoi-Dinamo 2:0.
Metalurgs – Dnepr – 3:4 (2:1)
Metalurgs: Spole, Kuznecov, Tomašauskas, Zirnis, Jemelin, Kalns, Aleksejev (Kalniņš, 58, Salihov, 78), Rafaļskism Kemš (Mežs, 85), Grebis, Rakel.
Goals: 0:1 Ljasjuk (7), 1:1 Rakel (39), 2:1 Kalov (45, own goal), 2:2 Chernikh (60), 2:2 Ljasjuk (65), 3:3 Grebis (87, penalty kick), 3:4 Karpovich (88).