Latvian Virslīga leaders Riga FC took a confident step toward the UEFA Conference League play-off round with a commanding 3-0 victory over Beitar Jerusalem in the first leg of their third qualifying round encounter.
Despite a goalless first half, Riga were the more composed and aggressive side right from kickoff. They pressed high, forced errors from the Israeli visitors, and maintained control throughout the opening 45 minutes. Defender Maksims Toņiševs earned an early yellow card for a forceful challenge, but quickly shifted gears, contributing to multiple attacking moves down the right wing.
The best chance of the first half came just before the break when Beitar goalkeeper Miguel Silva misjudged a clearance. The ball ricocheted off Reginaldo Ramíres and briefly caused chaos near the edge of the penalty area, but Silva managed to recover in time to avoid disaster. Although Riga didn’t score in the first half, they kept Beitar on the back foot and rarely allowed them past midfield.
The second half, however, belonged entirely to the hosts. Just moments after the restart, Riga broke the deadlock. A short corner routine ended with João Grimaldo whipping in a low cross, which Ramírez expertly finished from close range, putting Riga up 1–0.
Soon after, the Latvians launched a rapid counterattack. Raivis Jurkovskis found Meissa Diop in the box with teammates in support, but Diop opted to shoot from a difficult angle, sending the ball well over the goal – a missed opportunity that could’ve sealed the match even earlier.
The second goal arrived in the 63rd minute. After another corner, the ball fell to El Bashir Ngom, whose follow-up cross was nodded toward goal by Orlando Galo. Silva made a spectacular save, but Ramíres was perfectly placed to pounce on the rebound and score his second of the match.
Just six minutes later, Riga struck again. Substitute Antonijs Černomordijs headed a cross deeper into the penalty area, where Baba Musah applied the final touch from close range to make it 3–0. It was a goal that showcased the depth and efficiency of the Riga squad.
In the final minutes, Beitar appealed for a penalty after a contentious incident inside the box, but after a VAR check, the referee dismissed their claims. Černomordijs and Contreras nearly added a fourth goal in stoppage time.
Riga’s performance was not only convincing but also strategic – pressing with purpose, controlling possession, and making the most of set-pieces. With a three-goal cushion, they now head into the return leg in Ploiești, Romania, with a strong advantage.
The winner of this two-legged tie will progress to the play-off round, where they will meet either Sparta Prague or Ararat-Armenia. Riga had previously edged out Georgian club Dila Gori 5-4 on aggregate, while Beitar overcame Sutjeska of Montenegro with an impressive 7-3 scoreline.
After last year’s early exit in the second qualifying round, Riga are determined to go further this season – and based on this performance, they’re well on their way.
Riga FC – Beitar Jerusalem – 3:0 (0:0)
Goals: Ramires 47′ 63′, Musah 69′
RIG: Zviedris, Jurkovskis, Ngom, Musah, Toņiševs (Černomordijs 60′), Ankrah, Diop (Contreras 87′), Galo, Siqueira (Taiwo 87′), Grimaldo (Birka 87), Ramires (Regža 71′)
