Latvian clubs left with only UEFA Conference League. "Riga" falls in dramatic duel

On Tuesday in Riga, in the return match of the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, Latvian champions "Riga" defeated Armenia's "Ararat-Armenia" 3-2, but lost 3-4 on aggregate over two legs.

The hosts took the lead in the 14th minute when Jago Siqueira scored from an Orlando Galo assist. Shortly after, Ahmed Ankrah leveled the tie on aggregate with a powerful shot. During the first half, Galo and Salah Oulad received yellow cards.

Early in the second half, "Ararat-Armenia" pulled one back when Zhirair Shahoyan capitalized on a mistake by "Riga" goalkeeper Krisjanis Zviedris. In the 63rd minute, Sandro Lima scored, restoring Armenia's two-goal aggregate lead.

Towards the end of regulation time, "Riga" earned four consecutive corner kicks but failed to convert. In injury time, the referee awarded a penalty to the hosts after a video review. Reginaldo Ramirez converted the spot kick, but "Riga" could not score again in the remaining minutes.

"Riga" will now compete in the Champions Path of the UEFA Conference League, starting from the second qualifying round. In the first leg in Yerevan, the Latvian side played with a man down from the 72nd minute and lost 0-2.

"Ararat-Armenia" won the Armenian championship last season for the first time since 2020, but lost the Armenian Super Cup final this spring. In the previous European season, the club played in the Conference League, eliminating "Universitatea Cluj" and losing to Sparta Prague.

The Armenian 2026/2027 league season has not started yet, while "Riga" is second in the Latvian top flight, one point behind RFS.