RFS start Conference League qualification with Ķigurs double

RFS secured an important victory on Thursday in the first leg of the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, defeating Northern Irish side Glentoran 2-1 away from home.

Early in the match, RFS thought they had scored in the 21st minute, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul in the buildup. The hosts opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Zeno Ibsen Rossi headed in a corner kick from Ryan Cooney from close range.

RFS equalised just before halftime. Mārtiņš Ķigurs, who had replaced the injured Ismael Diomandé in the 32nd minute, struck from the edge of the box, sending the ball into the bottom right corner – 1:1.

Ķigurs became the hero in the second half. In the 70th minute, after a pass from Stefan Panić, he unleashed a long-range shot that bounced in front of the goalkeeper and, after the keeper touched it, found the bottom left corner – 2:1 for RFS.

In another match, Bohemians Dublin, featuring Latvian midfielder Markus Strod, beat Gibraltar's St. Joseph's 2-0 at home. Strod played until the 65th minute. Goals came from Douglas James-Taylor (penalty) and Conor Parsons.

Glentoran, who finished third in the Northern Irish league last season, have been competing in European club competitions for over 60 years. Eighteen years ago, they faced Liepājas metalurgs in the UEFA Cup, losing to the Latvian side.

The winner of this tie will face the loser of the UEFA Europa League qualifying pair between Qarabag Agdam and Vestri Ísafjarðar in the second round. Second-leg matches are scheduled for next week. RFS, currently leaders of the Latvian top flight, aim to progress further, needing to overcome three qualifying rounds and the play-off stage to reach the group stage.