FC Riga draws with Pafos in Europa Conference League return for coach Guľa

FC Riga earned a point in their second Europa Conference League group stage match, drawing 1:1 away against Pafos. The result leaves the Latvian club with two points from two games as they continue to seek their first victory in the competition. For head coach Adrián Guľa, the fixture represented a return to Cyprus, where he previously managed Apollon Limassol.

Guľa highlighted the significance of Riga's presence in the main phase of the European tournament, describing it as a major milestone for the club. Before the match, he emphasized the quality of the opposition and the need for defensive discipline. The game itself featured several dramatic moments, including disallowed goals for both sides early on due to offside and a foul on the goalkeeper.

Riga goalkeeper Kenan Pirič sustained a bloody nose during a collision but remained in the game after receiving treatment. The visitors took the lead in the 67th minute when substitute Caio Ferreira, recently returned from injury, scored following a pass from Salah Oulad M'Hand. However, Pafos responded quickly, with Biel equalizing in the 76th minute by exploiting a gap in the Riga defense.

Riga had opportunities to regain the lead late in the match. In the 89th minute, Mohamed Badamosi headed a chance directly at Pafos goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki. Pirič also made a crucial save in stoppage time to deny a header from Bruno. This result marks Riga's second consecutive 1:1 draw, following their opening match against Kairat Almaty.

Looking ahead, Guľa's team is scheduled to host Czech side Jablonec on November 5 for their next Conference League fixture. The Czech club features Slovak players Sebastián Nebyla and Dominik Hollý in their squad.