Riga Eliminated from Champions League Qualifying, to Continue in Conference League

Latvian champions "Riga" have been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League after losing 4-3 on aggregate to Armenian side "Ararat-Armenia" in the first qualifying round. In Tuesday's second leg in Riga, the home team won 3-2, but it was not enough to overturn the 2-0 deficit from the first match in Yerevan.

Riga took the lead in the 14th minute through Yago Siqueira, who finished after a pass from Orlando Galo. Less than ten minutes later, Ahmed Ankrah leveled the aggregate score with a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area. Galo and Salāh Ulād received yellow cards before halftime.

Early in the second half, goalkeeper Krišjānis Zviedris made an error, allowing Zhirayr Shagoyan to pull one back for the visitors. In the 63rd minute, Sandro Lima scored to make it 2-1 on the night, restoring Ararat-Armenia's two-goal aggregate lead.

Riga pressed with multiple corner kicks in the closing stages but could not break through. Deep into stoppage time, a VAR review led to a penalty for Riga, which Reginaldo Ramires converted to restore a one-goal lead on the night. However, no further chances were created.

Riga will now continue their European campaign in the UEFA Conference League Champions Path, starting from the second qualifying round. Ararat-Armenia, who won the Armenian league for the first time since 2020, lost the Armenian Super Cup final this spring. Last season, they reached the third qualifying round of the Conference League. The Armenian league for the 2026/2027 season has not yet started, while Riga sit second in the Latvian top flight.