Ferreira gives Riga the lead, but again have to settle for a point

Riga FC were forced to settle for their second consecutive draw in the UEFA Conference League league phase after playing out a 1-1 draw against Pafos FC in Cyprus. Substitute Caio Ferreira gave the Latvian champions the lead midway through the second half, but Biel’s equaliser eight minutes later denied Riga their first victory in the competition.

Riga FC head coach Adrian Guľa made just one change to his starting lineup from the opening 1-1 draw against Kairat Almaty, with Reginaldo Ramires replacing Gambian international Mohamed Badamosi in attack. For the second consecutive European fixture, captain Antonijs Černomordijs started on the bench, with Karl Wassom and Baba Musah continuing their partnership in central defence.

The match began at a lively pace, with both sides creating opportunities in the opening minutes. Riga threatened first from a fifth-minute corner, but Musah directed his header wide. At the opposite end, Vlad Dragomir found space around the penalty spot, only to send his effort off target.

Moments later, Riga thought they had taken the lead when Ramires raced behind the Pafos defence and calmly converted a one-on-one opportunity. However, following a brief VAR check, the goal was disallowed for offside.

Pafos then had a goal ruled out on their own in the 12th minute. Riga goalkeeper Kenan Piric attempted to collect a low cross but collided with Joao Correia, who was also challenging for the ball. The loose ball was subsequently turned into the net by a Pafos player.

With Piric receiving medical attention for a bloodied nose, the referee was advised to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. After examining the footage, he ruled that Correia had fouled the goalkeeper, meaning the score remained 0-0. Piric was able to continue despite the collision.

Following the two disallowed goals, Riga began to take control of proceedings and created several promising opportunities, much as they had done in their opening European fixture against Kairat. Salah Oulad M’Hand delivered a dangerous ball towards the far post, where Meissa Diop was unable to make the necessary contact, sending his attempt wide. Shortly afterwards, Ramires escaped his marker and drove into the penalty area from the left, but his shot from a tight angle failed to find the target.

The visitors’ best opportunity of the first half arrived in the 33rd minute. Raki Aouani reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area and fired a shot against the post, leaving Riga frustrated once again.

Despite creating the better chances, Guľa’s side were unable to break the deadlock before the interval. Pafos regained some attacking momentum towards the end of the half, with Piric called into action to save a long-range effort from Correia.

The second half began differently, with Riga struggling to reproduce the attacking intensity they had shown before the break. Pafos gradually grew more comfortable in possession and began spending longer periods in the visitors’ half.

In the 58th minute, the hosts threatened from a corner when Anderson Silva made a run towards the near post and directed a header on target, but Piric was well positioned to make a comfortable save.

With his side needing fresh energy, Guľa introduced Badamosi and Caio Ferreira, who had recently returned from injury. The decision paid off almost immediately. In the 68th minute, Oulad M’Hand beat his defender on the left flank and delivered an excellent ball across the face of goal. Ferreira timed his run perfectly and arrived at the far post to tap home, giving Riga a deserved 1-0 advantage.

The Latvian champions nearly doubled their lead moments later after winning possession in midfield and launching a four-against-three counterattack. Oulad M’Hand was again involved, sending a dangerous pass across from the left, but Badamosi was unable to connect and the opportunity went begging.

That missed chance proved costly. In the 76th minute, Pafos worked the ball down the right flank before a cross found Sema, who got past Maksims Toņiševs and laid the ball into the penalty area for Biel. The Brazilian attacker turned into space and, with Wassom failing to close him down quickly enough, unleashed a powerful shot beyond Piric to restore parity.

Both teams continued searching for a winner. Pafos substitute Lele fired over from distance, while Riga midfielder Iago Siqueira saw an effort from a promising position blocked by a defender.

Riga then wasted a golden opportunity to reclaim the lead in the 89th minute. Siqueira delivered a long free kick into the penalty area, where substitute Codi Saco headed the ball down into the path of Badamosi. The Gambian striker found himself completely unmarked in front of goal, with plenty of space to direct his header, but sent his first-time effort straight into the hands of Pafos goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki.

The hosts nearly punished Riga for that miss in the first minute of stoppage time. A cross into the penalty area found Bruno, whose powerful header forced Piric into an excellent save. The Bosnian goalkeeper also ensured there was no rebound for the Pafos attackers to capitalise on.

Neither side managed to find a winner during the remaining minutes. The 1-1 draw leaves Riga FC with two points from their opening two Conference League fixtures, having recorded identical results against Kairat Almaty and Pafos.

Guľa’s side will now turn their attention back to domestic competition before returning to European action on November 5, when they host Czech club Jablonec inside the Skonto Stadium.

Pafos FC vs Riga FC – 1-1 (0-0)
Goals: Biel 76′ | Ferreira 67′