Latvian champions Riga FC will return home with everything to play for after playing a 0-0 draw away to Faroese champions Klaksvik in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off tie.
Riga travelled to the Faroe Islands without their leading scorer, Gambian striker Mohammed Badamosi, who was unable to obtain a visa for the trip. As a result, head coach Adrian Guľa relied on Reginaldo Ramires up front, with Nigerian forward Abdulrahman Taiwo also available as an attacking option from the bench.
The challenge was always expected to be difficult. Klaksvik had not lost a European home match in this stadium in five years, with the last defeat coming against fellow Latvian side RFS. Since then, the Faroese champions had gone 11 consecutive home European matches unbeaten, defeating clubs such as Bodo/Glimt, Molde and Malmo along the way.
Riga started brightly and enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening stages, although clear-cut opportunities were hard to come by. Raki Aouani looked lively down the left flank, but the visitors struggled to make the most of their deliveries into the penalty area on the artificial surface.
As the first half progressed, Klaksvik gradually grew into the match and began creating danger from set pieces. On the other end Andres Salazar came close after a well-worked corner, while for Klaksvik Hallur Hansson forced Frank Dāvis Orols into an important save from close range. Despite Riga seeing more of the ball before the break, the Faroese side produced the better scoring opportunities.
Riga came out with greater intent after half-time and nearly broke the deadlock through Aouani. The Tunisian found himself in an excellent position twice within the opening minutes of the second half, but both efforts were denied by goalkeeper Mark Jensen.
The home side regained control as the match wore on, once again threatening from corners, while Riga looked dangerous on the counter-attack. The visitors’ best chance arrived late on when Reginaldo Ramires played Raivis Jurkovskis through on goal, but the Latvian full-back was unable to beat Jensen, who closed the angle brilliantly.
Klaksvik also had an opportunity to snatch victory in the closing minutes, but substitute David Reynheim fired narrowly wide from close range following yet another dangerous corner.
The goalless draw extends Klaksvik’s unbeaten home run in European competitions to 12 matches, while leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of next Thursday’s return leg at Skonto Stadium, where Riga FC will attempt to secure a historic place in the UEFA Conference League league phase.
Klaksvik vs Riga FC – 0-0
