Jablonec saw off Riga FS 2-0 at home in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League on Wednesday evening. The Czech side took an early lead through V. Chanturishvili and added a second half goal from M. Polidar to secure progression. By then the visitors had grown increasingly ragged in their approach, and the home crowd sensed what was coming.
Chanturishvili struck in the eighteenth minute to give Jablonec the advantage, and the visitors immediately tried to respond. Riga FS came out stronger after the break with M. Kigurs brought on at half-time, but they could not find the breakthrough. To be fair, their shots lacked precision all afternoon — one on target from twelve attempts tells you everything.
Polidar doubled the lead in the fifty-third minute, capitalising on Riga's disorganisation. The visitors had more attacks overall, but Jablonec were sharper when it mattered. Substitutions followed in quick succession: L. Jawo, S. Rakic, and N. Okeke all came on for the hosts as they looked to see out the game. And here's the thing — Riga's manager threw everything at it but found no answer.
The statistics paint a clear picture. Jablonec held 46 per cent possession but registered five shots on target to Riga's one. The visitors managed 122 attacks against 107 for the hosts, yet only one found the wayward direction. One mistake ends it when you cannot keep the ball in dangerous areas.
Jablonec enter the next round with momentum building. They have won four of their last five matches, including two clean sheets on the spin. Riga FS's European campaign ends here after five games without defeat at home in domestic competition. There is no value left at that number when the opposition is this disciplined.
