Post and crossbar deny Latvia forward Uldriķis twice in one match

In a Latvia national football team match where Markuss Strods scored the opening goal, 28-year-old forward Roberts Uldriķis, who plays for Dutch club Heerenveen, came agonizingly close to scoring twice. In the first half, following a precise cross from Andrejs Cigaņiks, Uldriķis headed the ball against the post. In the second half, his effort with the top of his foot struck the crossbar.

Two near misses

Describing the first chance to Sportacentrs.com, Uldriķis said he won his positional duel against the defender and got into a strong spot, something he and coaches Gatis Kalniņš and Massimo Paganin had specifically discussed beforehand regarding the need for more crosses into the box. The shot itself was decent, he said, but it struck the post instead of going in.

The second chance came after a give-and-go attempt with Zelenkovs. The ball bounced loose in a crowded box, landing in front of Uldriķis. Reacting quickly amid the chaos, he struck it with his toe, aiming to recreate a goal he remembered watching as a child — Ronaldinho's famous 2005 strike against Chelsea from distance. This time the ball crashed off the crossbar instead.

Uldriķis said he could not recall ever hitting the woodwork twice in a single match before. Despite the missed opportunities, he rated the match as one of the better performances in terms of quality so far, noting the team played varied football with good combinations in midfield and attack, though finishing in the final third still needs improvement. He expressed hope that fortune would favor Latvia in the upcoming match in Cyprus.