Glentoran suffer narrow defeat by RFS at Oval

Glentoran opened their European campaign with a marginal 2-1 defeat by RFS in the first leg of their Conference League first round qualifier at the Oval. Debutant Zeno Rossi headed the Glens in front seven minutes before the break before substitute Martins Kigurs levelled for RFS on the stroke of half-time. Kigurs added a second for the visitors in what proved to be enough to win the first leg with 20 minutes to go with an ambitious strike from 30-yards out. The two sides will meet again in Latvia for the second leg next Thursday, 16 July. RFS come from behind to hold advantage It was almost a dream start for the hosts, who came close to hitting the front within a minute when new signing Rossi met Ryan Cooney's free-kick on the head, but saw his effort slide just wide of the far post. The visitors began to flex their muscles early on and had the ball in the back of the net through striker Rostand Ndjiki after 21 minutes before it was ruled out by referee Ross Hardie for a foul in the build-up. Moments later the Glens came close again. This time it was Aaron McEneff who fired a right-footed effort just over the bar from the edge of the box following a half-cleared corner. Declan Devine's side then did hit the front on 38 minutes, with debutant Rossi heading home Cooney's cross at the near post despite Jevgenijs Nerugals' best efforts at keeping the ball out. RFS responded just before the break as Kigurs levelled from close range at the second attempt after Billy Crellin tipped the substitute's effort onto the post moments before. The visitors came close to hitting the front 10 minutes into the second half after Stefan Panic fired just over the crossbar after linking up with Ndjiki in a creative attacking move. Goalscorer Kigurs had a golden opportunity to find his second of the evening midway through the second half but failed to hit the target after some nice work from Ndjiki down the left. Moments later, Kigurs had his second of the night, firing past Crellin from 30-yards to win it for the visitors who head back to Latvia with a slender advantage.