Latvian side FK Auda took a slender advantage into next week’s return leg after defeating Albanian club Dinamo City 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League third qualifying round tie at Skonto Stadium. Barthelemy Diedhiou’s stunning second-half strike proved to be the difference, although the hosts had to survive a late scare to preserve their lead.
Head coach Didier Zanetti made just one change from the side that eliminated Romanian champions FCSB in the previous round, with Ralfs Kragliks replacing Ariel Arroyo in central defence.
Auda made the brighter start as they continued to threaten and soon created the game’s first clear-cut opportunity. Wally Fofana found himself in an excellent position inside the six-yard box but was denied by the Dinamo City goalkeeper.
Another dangerous moment arrived just before half-time when Eduards Dašķevičs delivered an inviting cross for Barthelemy Diedhiou, but the Senegalese forward was unable to turn it into the net. Despite enjoying the better chances and outshooting their visitors, Auda went into the break with the score still level at 0-0.
The Latvian side resumed with purpose after the interval. Kone twice tested the Dinamo City defence early in the second half, with one effort crashing against the post after an excellent piece of control. Moments later, Moussa Ouedraogo struck the rebound from close range, but his powerful effort was heroically blocked.
Auda continued to pile on the pressure and in the 67th minute Tin Hrvoj nearly repeated his memorable free-kick goal against FCSB. This time his effort was well saved, but the breakthrough arrived from the resulting corner.
Dašķevičs’ delivered the ball to the edge of the penalty area to Barthelemy Diedhiou. The striker unleashed a spectacular first-time strike that flew into the net, giving Auda a thoroughly deserved 1-0 lead.
Dinamo City’s task became even harder seven minutes later when defender Fabjan Perndreca received his second yellow card of the evening and was sent off, leaving the Albanian side to finish the match with ten men.
Despite their numerical advantage and finishing the game with 20 shots compared to Dinamo City’s eight, Auda could not find a second goal to give themselves greater breathing room.
Instead, the closing minutes produced an anxious finish. Dinamo City came agonisingly close to snatching an equaliser, only for Tin Hrvoj to produce a vital goal-line header before goalkeeper Nils Puriņš made another crucial save to preserve the clean sheet.
Auda ultimately held on for a deserved 1-0 victory and will take a narrow advantage into next Thursday’s second leg in Albania, where a place in the UEFA Conference League play-off round will be at stake. There, the winner of the tie will face the loser of the UEFA Europa League qualifying clash between Red Bull Salzburg and Pafos.
FK Auda vs Dinamo City – 1-0 (0-0)
Goal: Diedhiou 68′
