It was another disappointing night for Latvian football in Europe as both RFS and Riga FC fell to first-leg defeats in the UEFA Conference League play-offs. Riga produced a battling display in Prague but were undone late on by Sparta, while champions RFS slumped to yet another disappointing performance, this time against Hamrun Spartans in Malta, who defeated Lithuanian champions FK Žalgiris in the first round of Champions League qualifications earlier this summer.
Hamrun Spartans 1–0 RFS
For RFS, the European woes continue. The Latvian champions slipped to a 1-0 defeat away to Hamrun Spartans, a result that leaves them with everything to do in next week’s return leg in Riga.
On a controversial and uneven pitch at Malta’s National Stadium, RFS had early chances to seize control. Most notably, Mor Talla dragged a shot wide in the seventh minute after a break on the left, while captain Žiga Lipušček and striker Darko Lemajić attempted to impose their aerial strength despite RFS earning no corners during the entire match. But just as the game seemed balanced, the hosts struck. In the 55th minute, Saliou Thioune punished sloppy build-up play from the visitors, ghosting into the box to fire past Marko Marič. This is not the first time during this European campaign that RFS concede from giving the ball away near their penalty box.
From there, RFS struggled to create any meaningful threat. Long balls forward were easily dealt with, and despite late pressure, they rarely tested the Maltese defence. Head coach Viktors Morozs admitted afterwards that concentration and sharpness were again missing: “We lost the goal from a mistake in our own half and the wrong positioning. We have to correct this at home, because there is no more room to step back.”
Hamrun’s Italian coach Giacomo Modica was delighted with his side’s resilience in the difficult conditions: “They showed a lot of grit, character and determination in a difficult match, made harder due to the pitch conditions. Nonetheless, we managed to find a breakthrough thanks to a great goal by Thioune, which helps us make a little step forward in this journey.”
Looking ahead to the return leg, he acknowledged the challenge: “We will now play on another turf pitch, on which they are very used and we are not – these are small details that can make the difference.”
The defeat marks RFS’s fifth straight loss in European competition, with their only success this summer being a narrow 2-0 aggregate win over FCI Levadia in the Champions League first qualifying round. For a side that regularly dominates domestically and played in the Europe League last season, continental form has become a recurring frustration.
Sparta Praha 2–0 Riga FC
If RFS looked blunt and uninspired, Riga FC at least emerged with credit despite a 2-0 loss to Sparta in Prague.
In front of 17,000 fans at Letná, the Czech champions started strongly and took the lead in the 22nd minute when Jan Kuchta rose to head in from a corner. Riga responded with resilience, holding their own in midfield and carving out chances of their own. Meissa Diop’s long-range effort forced Peter Vindahl into a save before half-time, while Reginaldo Ramírez went close after the break from a Joao Grimaldo cross.
Sparta, however, always carried a threat. Lukáš Haraslín twice tested goalkeeper Krišjānis Zviedris with low drives, and in stoppage time the pressure told. Albion Rrahmani sealed the win with a composed finish to leave Sparta in control heading into next week’s second leg in Riga.
Despite the setback, Riga can take encouragement from their performance. They pressed high, enjoyed spells of possession, and did not look overawed against a side of Sparta’s pedigree. The Latvian league leaders will believe they can make life uncomfortable in the return fixture.
Looking Ahead
Both Latvian sides now face decisive second legs at home. For Riga, the task is difficult but not impossible: overturning a two-goal deficit against Sparta would be a statement achievement. For RFS, it is a case of restoring pride and finally converting domestic dominance into credible European progress.
Next week in Riga, one team has the chance to push forward with belief; the other is fighting simply to halt an alarming collapse.
