Panic does it again, RFS moves on to the second round

Latvian champions FC RFS have advanced to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League after securing a 2–0 aggregate victory over Estonian titleholders FCI Levadia. A second-half goal by Serbian midfielder Stefan Panić proved decisive in a tense second leg at a sold-out LNK Sports Park in Rīga.

RFS manager Viktors Morozs made two changes to his starting lineup, including a European debut for Croatian goalkeeper Marko Marić. Dāvis Ikaunieks also came into the XI, with Petr Mareš dropping to the bench. Levadia boss Curro Torres made one adjustment, bringing in Bubacarr Tambedou for Mark Roosnupp.

Holding a narrow 1–0 advantage from the first leg, RFS looked to start strong—and they nearly did. In just the third minute, Jānis Ikaunieks found the net from the edge of the box after a pass from Panić, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside in the buildup.

Jānis remained lively, combining well with brother Dāvis to create another early chance, but his angled effort was saved by Karl Andre Vallner in the Levadia goal.

The home side suffered a blow midway through the first half when center-back Herdi Prenga went down after an aerial collision. He was stretchered off with a suspected shoulder injury and later taken away by ambulance, with Elvis Stuglis replacing him.

Levadia capitalized on RFS’s brief disorganization, creating several dangerous chances. Tambedou caused problems down the left. Meanwhile on the other side Lasha Odisharia won a free-kick after being brought down by Edgar Tur. Roberts Savaļnieks took the resulting set piece, aiming for the near post, but Vallner was alert.

Marić was then called into action for his biggest moment of the half, diving low to deny Ernest Agyiri’s powerful free-kick that looked destined for the bottom corner.

Levadia ended the half on the front foot with a series of dangerous crosses, but failed to find a breakthrough. The first half closed in a goalless draw, leaving everything to play for in the second 45.

The visitors came out aggressively after the restart. Richie Musaba got in behind the RFS defense but Marić again came to the rescue with a fingertip save. Moments later, Tambedou squandered a clear opportunity after a slick through-ball from Mihkel Ainsalu—delaying his shot long enough for Njie to recover and block.

Sensing his side was under pressure, Morozs introduced Barthelemy Diedhiou for Dāvis Ikaunieks. The change proved impactful: Diedhiou won a corner that eventually led to the game’s only goal. After the initial corner was cleared, Haruna Njie delivered a pinpoint pass out wide to Savaļnieks. He cut inside the box and found Panić, who slotted home clinically to double RFS’s aggregate lead in the 65th minute.

Curro Torres responded with a double substitution—Frank Liivak and Carlos Torres came on for Tur and Agyiri—but Levadia couldn’t find a way back. Their final chance came in stoppage time, when substitute Mark Roosnupp’s volley forced a strong save from Marić, the ball ricocheting off the post and out.

The final whistle from Romanian referee sealed FC RFS’s progression to the second round, where they will face Swedish champions Malmö FF. Meanwhile, Levadia drop into the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round, where they will meet Georgian champions FC Iberia 1999.

FC RFS vs FCI Levadia – 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: Panic 68’
RFS: Maric, Savaļnieks, Prenga (Stuglis 22’), Njie, Lipušček, Zelenkovs, J.Ikaunieks, Panic, Odisharia (Gaye 81’), Lemajic, D.Ikaunieks (Diedhieou 65’)
LEV: Vallner, Tur (Liivak 72’), Iboro, Tammik, Schjonning-Larsen, Mavretic, Ainsalu (Kirss 80’), Agyiri (Torres 72’), Joao Pedro (Roosnupp 80’), Tambedou, Musaba (Skvortson 88’)