Ulads: Coach Told Me to Score After I Came On
Riga FC forward Ulads scored in the 89th minute, securing the club's first-ever qualification to the main stage of European football competition. He revealed his coach had instructed him to score right before he entered the pitch.
Football club Riga has achieved a historic milestone, qualifying for the main stage of a European club competition for the first time in the club's history. The decisive goal came in the 89th minute from Ulads, who struck powerfully to secure the win.
The match was far from straightforward — Riga were reduced to ten men in the second half, yet still managed to regain the lead and hold on until the final whistle.
A coach's instruction before the decisive moment
Speaking after the match, Ulads said he had not previously realized the historic significance of the achievement but expressed pride in the team's success. He noted that while the result marks a major accomplishment, it also represents the start of a new chapter, with a new tournament ahead featuring many competitive matches.
The forward said European competition is exactly where players want to be, testing themselves against strong opponents and top teams, even if it isn't the Champions League. He also praised the opposing side, describing them as a respectable and hard-fighting team, adding that the win felt especially satisfying given the opponents fought well even while down to ten players.
Ulads also described the moment just before he was sent on as a substitute — his coach gave him a clear instruction to score. He said he simply did what he was told, crediting his years of experience in football for knowing what it takes to win. At the same time, he stressed that the achievement was a team effort, even though he was the one who found the net on this occasion.
