Riga lost to their opponents 1:2 (0:1).
In the 16th minute,”Maccabi” used the first goal-scoring moment. After Wesley Patati’s free kick, Idan Nahmias headed the ball into the left corner from the middle of the penalty area - 1:0 for “Maccabi”.
In the 52nd minute, Stefan Panič passed the ball through the air from the right side of the field into the opponent’s penalty area, where Roberts Savalnieks sent the ball from the corner of the goalkeeper’s area into the far corner of the goal – 1:1.
In the 69th minute, almost identical to the first goal, “Maccabi” scored the second goal. Once again, Patati took a free kick from the sideline near the right side of the field, and Nemanja Stojic headed the ball into the far corner of the goal – 2:1 for “Maccabi”.
In stoppage time, Maccabi goalkeeper Roi Mispati handballed Darko Lemajic in his own penalty area and a penalty was awarded after watching the replay.
In the tournament table, RFS occupies the 34th place with two points, while “Maccabi” occupies the 27th place with six points in the competition of 36 clubs.
In the first round, the Latvian champion RFS lost 1:4 away to Bucharest FCSB, then played 2:2 with Istanbul “Galatasaray” at home, recognized the superiority of Frankfurt “eintracht” from Germany with 0:1, and played a 1:1 draw with the Belgian at home. “Anderlecht” and lost 0:2 to the Greek team Thessaloniki PAOK.
“Maccabi” lost 1:2 to the Portuguese club ”Braga”, in Belgrade, where it plays its home games, it lost 0:2 to the Danish team “Midtjylland” of Herning and 1:2 to “Real Sociedad” of San Sebastian from Spain, in a visit to Amsterdam “Ajax” lost 0:5 and beat Istanbul “besiktas” 3:1.
After the match with PAOK RFS in the Spanish city of Málaga, they lost 0-1 to the Swedish club “Malmo” in a test match, but ”Maccabi” played three games in the Israeli championship, defeating “Maccabi Reine” 2-1 and also played 2-2 with Haderas ” Hapoel” and 1:1 with Haifa “Hapoel”.
RFS signed Japanese midfielder Yukiyoshi Karashima on a two-year contract in early December, but the 27-year-old will not join training until early January
RFS started the European Cup season in the Champions League, defeating the Northern Irish champion “Larne” 7-0 in the first qualifying round in the sum of two matches, and losing 1:7 to the Norwegian gold medalist “Bodo” in the second round and reaching the third round of the UEFA Europa League qualification, where two defeated the Andorran team “Santa coloma” by 9-0 in the total of games.
In the fight for a place in the Europa League group tournament, the Riga team played 3-3 with Nicosia APOEL in the sum of two matches, but won 4-2 in the shootout.
“Maccabi” started this season in the UEFA Champions League, where they lost 1:2 to FCSB bucharest in the second round of qualification. On the other hand, in the European League, the Israeli club defeated the Lithuanian club “Panevežys” by 5:1 in the third qualifying round, while the Serbian team Bačka Topolas TSC was defeated by 8:1 in the playoff round.
In the RFS main tournament, on January 23, at home, they will meet Dutch Amsterdam “Ajax” and on January 30 in hamburg – with Kyiv “Dynamo” from Ukraine.
RFS is the second Latvian team after “Ventspils” that has entered the main tournament of the UEFA Europa League, the no longer existing Kurzeme club enabled it in the 2009/2010 season. Two years ago, RFS competed in the main tournament of the UEFA Europa Conference league, which is the third strongest European club tournament.
The 36 teams of the main tournament play matches against eight different opponents, facing two teams from each of the four baskets.
The eight best teams of the main tournament secure places in the round of 16, the owners of the 9th-24th places will fight in the first round of the playoff tournament, while the European Cup season will be over for the other teams. This format is played for the first time in the UEFA Europa League, replacing the customary group tournament.
The UEFA European League final will be held in the Spanish city of Bilbao on May 25.
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Football Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today,we’re diving into a recent match that stirred quite the conversation among football fans — the match between maccabi and riga that ended with a score of 2-1. Joining us is football expert Dr. Alexei Karpenko.Alexei, thank you for being here!
Dr. Alexei Karpenko: Thank you for having me! It’s always exciting to discuss football.
Editor: Let’s dive right into the match. Maccabi scored their first goal early in the game with a well-placed header from Idan Nahmias following Wesley Patati’s free kick. What do you think made this goal especially effective?
Dr. Karpenko: That goal really illustrated Maccabi’s prowess in set pieces. Patati’s free kick was delivered with precision, and Nahmias positioned himself perfectly to exploit the space in the defense. It’s a textbook example of how to capitalize on dead-ball situations. Timing and placement are crucial — he struck the right balance, heading it into the corner where the goalkeeper couldn’t reach it.
Editor: Following that, Riga managed to equalize with a fantastic goal from Roberts Savalnieks in the 52nd minute. Can you break down what happened there?
Dr. Karpenko: Absolutely! savalnieks’ goal was a testament to his skill and awareness on the field. The aerial pass by Stefan Panič was critical as it put the Maccabi defense under pressure.Savalnieks read the play beautifully,making a smart run into space to receive the ball. His finish was clinical, directing the ball into the far corner. This example reflects how crucial it is for players to maintain composure during such moments.
Editor: it sounds like a real back-and-forth contest. However, Maccabi took the lead again in the 69th minute with another goal from a Patati free kick. Was this goal similar to the first?
Dr.Karpenko: Very much so. In fact, it was almost a carbon copy of the opening goal. Patati displayed his ability to deliver set pieces that threaten the opposition.The repetition highlights Riga’s struggle to adapt defensively after the first goal. Maccabi recognized the prospect to exploit the same weakness, and Nemanji’s header demonstrated their clinical finishing. They capitalized on their advantage, showcasing a knack for seizing key moments.
Editor: So, what does this match tell us about the current state of both teams?
Dr. Karpenko: Maccabi’s ability to win despite a fluctuating match indicates their resilience and tactical discipline. They can rely on set pieces for offense,which is vital in tight matches. On the other hand, Riga showcased their potential by clawing back to equalize. However,their inability to defend against repeated set-piece threats could be a concern moving forward. They need to reassess their defensive strategies in training.
Editor: Interesting insights! Looking ahead, what should we expect from both teams in their next fixtures?
Dr. Karpenko: For Maccabi, they will likely build on this momentum — set pieces will remain a focal point in their training. They should also focus on staying alert defensively, as they might face teams willing to exploit any gaps. For Riga, it’s crucial for them to work on their defensive institution, especially with set pieces. They have the attacking capability, as shown by Savalnieks’ goal, but they need that balance to ensure they’re not just competitive but can secure points.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Karpenko, for yoru expert analysis. We appreciate your time today!
Dr. karpenko: Thank you! It’s always a pleasure discussing the gorgeous game.