Appiah’s late double rescues Auda as Riga throw away two-goal lead

Riga FC missed a major opportunity in the Virslīga title race after surrendering a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 against Auda, with Andrews Appiah completing his brace in stoppage time. The defending champions have now gone three consecutive league matches without a victory and remain three points behind leaders RFS.

Riga had the better of the opening stages, with Muhammed Badamosi particularly active in attack. The Gambian striker had three opportunities during the opening 22 minutes but was unable to find the target, while at the other end Auda also threatened through Mohamoud Fofana.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in spectacular fashion in the 38th minute. Salah-Eddine Oulad stepped up to take Riga’s corner from the left and curled the ball directly towards goal, catching Nils Puriņš out as it flew into the far corner to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Auda came within centimetres of responding before half-time. Mohamoud Fofana struck the crossbar from outside the penalty area in the 43rd minute before seeing another effort blocked moments later, allowing Riga to take their narrow advantage into the break.

Riga doubled their lead in the 66th minute, only two minutes after Caio Ferreira had been introduced from the bench. Andres Salazar delivered an excellent cross towards the far post, where the Brazilian was left unmarked and finished from close range to seemingly put the hosts firmly in control at 2-0.

Auda, however, refused to surrender. Ten minutes later, Jevgenijs Miņins found Appiah on the edge of the penalty area and the 18-year-old Ghanaian produced a powerful low finish into the bottom corner to reduce the deficit. Appiah continued to cause problems, forcing Frenks Orols into a save in the 81st minute before narrowly missing from distance as the game entered its final moments.

The decisive moment came in the third minute of stoppage time. A weak back-pass from Baba Musah was punished by Auda, with Appiah getting onto the ball and finishing into the bottom corner to complete his brace and dramatically make it 2-2.

Riga still had opprtunity to rescue the victory from a late corner, but the header from Ahmed Ankrah went wide of the goal.

The draw extended Riga’s winless league run to three matches after a 2-3 defeat against Liepāja and a draw with BFC Daugavpils. With six rounds remaining, Riga sit three points behind RFS in the title race, making another dropped two-goal lead particularly costly.

Riga FC vs FK Auda – 2-2 (1-0)
Goals: Oulad 38′, Ferreira 66′ | Appiah 76′ 90+3′

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	RFS	34	27	5	2	84	24	60	86
2	Riga FC	34	25	7	2	95	33	62	82
3	FK Auda	34	20	7	7	57	35	22	67
4	BFC Daugavpils	34	13	9	12	40	37	3	48
5	FK Liepāja	34	13	8	13	46	46	0	47
6	Super Nova	34	11	5	18	32	50	-18	38
7	FS Jelgava	34	8	8	18	34	57	-23	32
8	Grobiņa	34	6	11	17	27	61	-34	29
9	FK Tukums 2000	34	5	10	19	44	65	-21	25
10	Ogre United	34	4	6	24	34	85	-51	18