RFS recovers late in the game and pulls Linfield back from a two-goal deficit

What a dramatic match as RFS came back from being 0-2 down against Linfield in the 88th minute, to taking a 2-2 draw with them to Belfast for the 2nd leg of the Europa Conference League playoffs. A game of contrasts as Skonto Stadium went from being quiet after Linfield's second goal to the crowd exploding during Lipušček's 96th minute goal which tied the game.

RFS players after the match celebrating the 2-2 draw. 

RFS were the first to threaten as in the 7th minute, Tomas Simkovic gave a beautiful chip pass to Andrej Ilic in the box who was just short of reaching the ball. Six minutes later the Rīdzinieki were very close to scoring, however Linfield keeper Chris Johns saved Alfusainey Jaffa’s shot from 5 meters out. In the 17th minute RFS got a penalty after a handball from Linfield, and got a huge chance to take an early lead. Czech midfielder Petr Mares missed as his shot went wide of the goal. In the 28th minute Brazilian winger Emerson had a great chance as he dribbled inside the box and had a shot which went just wide of the left post.

The hosts kept fighting for that first goal as six minutes later, RFS captain Simkovic shot outside the box which Johns was barely able to hold onto. The visitors took the lead in the 39th minute as Stephen Fallon’s shot hit the bottom left hand corner, which RFS keeper Pāvels Šteinbors couldn’t get a hold of. Just a minute before half time, RFS had a golden opportunity to tie the game as Ivory Coast forward Cedric Kouadio missed a one-on-one against the keeper. Despite the hosts dominating the 1st half and having a penalty, it was the Northern Irish side who took their chances. 

The first 15 minutes of the second half, Linfield were in control as they had 58% ball possession in the half and kept RFS from attacking. It went from bad to worse for RFS as Linfield doubled the lead in the 71st minute, as Joel Copper was on a counter attack with his shot hitting the post and in which made it 0-2. A minute before injury time RFS got a goal back as Kevin Friesenbichler heads the ball in from a corner kick and made it 1-2. In the 6th minute of injury time Žiga Lipušček turned it around for the Rīdzinieki as his shot from outside the box went in, which got the crowd roaring. 

Despite a frustrating 88 minutes for RFS, they were able to turn it around and made it easier on themselves in the 2nd leg. Before kickoff, Linfield would’ve taken an 2-2 draw however, now they felt that they had missed a golden opportunity to be on the front foot. RFS manager Viktors Morozs stated that in the 2nd half the team showed character. It’s all to play for in Belfast next Thursday as both sides are 90 minutes away from competing in the Europa Conference League group stages!