Latvian champions RFS comfortably secured their place in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League after drawing 1-1 away to Icelandic side Vestri, completing a 5-2 aggregate victory.
Holding a commanding 4-1 advantage from the first leg in Rīga, RFS began brightly and controlled possession early on. However, it was the hosts who struck first, capitalising on a swift counter-attack. After an initial save from Jevgeņijs Nerugals, the ball remained on the goal line before eventually being bundled into the net, giving Vestri hope of an unlikely comeback.
Those hopes lasted only four minutes. RFS responded immediately as Mamadou Sylla received the ball inside the penalty area and fired a powerful finish into the far corner to restore parity on the night and re-establish the visitors’ three-goal aggregate cushion.
The remainder of the first half offered few clear-cut chances, with RFS comfortably controlling proceedings despite the score remaining level at the interval.
The Latvian champions continued to dictate play after the break and came close to taking the lead through Jānis Ikaunieks, whose powerful effort was denied by the Vestri goalkeeper. Substitute Darko Lemajic also thought he had put RFS ahead, only for his finish to be ruled out for offside.
RFS remained the more dangerous side throughout the second half, but could not find the winner against the second division Icelandic side.
The 1-1 draw was more than enough for RFS to comfortably progress with a 5-2 aggregate triumph. The Latvian league leaders will now face Czech side Jablonec in the third qualifying round after they eliminated Croatian club Varaždin.
