Auda vs Larne: Resumen

In a gripping UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying second round encounter, FK Auda and Larne FC delivered a thrilling contest that ended 2-2 after extra time at Stadions Skonto on July 16, 2025. The Northern Irish visitors ultimately prevailed 4-2 in the subsequent penalty shootout to advance to the next round of the competition.

The atmosphere at Riga's iconic stadium was electric as the Latvian side twice took the lead through Abdoul Traore and substitute Enzo Monteiro, only for the resilient visitors to respond with equalizers from Conor McKendry and Paul O'Neill. The drama unfolded against the backdrop of passionate support from both sets of fans, with the traveling Larne contingent making their presence felt despite being outnumbered.

Following a goalless first leg at Ballymena Showgrounds, this result sees Nathan Rooney's Larne FC continue their impressive European journey, extending their unbeaten run to 15 matches. The Northern Irish outfit demonstrated remarkable composure during the penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson emerging as the hero after saving Kemehlo Nguena's spot-kick.

This victory propels Larne toward a third qualifying round tie against either FC Sheriff Tiraspol or FC Prishtina, representing another significant step forward for the club that reached the Conference League group stage last season. For Jurģis Kalns' FK Auda, despite showing tremendous fight and twice taking the lead, their European adventure comes to a heartbreaking conclusion.

The players showed incredible character tonight. To twice come from behind in such a hostile environment speaks volumes about this group. We've been practicing penalties extensively, and that preparation has paid dividends. Rohan [Ferguson] was exceptional when it mattered most, and our penalty takers showed nerves of steel. This is another memorable European night for our club and supporters.

— Nathan Rooney, Larne FC Head Coach

We controlled large portions of the game and twice took the lead. That's football sometimes—you can do almost everything right but still fall short. The penalty shootout is always a lottery, and unfortunately, we came up just short. I'm proud of how we represented Latvian football, but naturally disappointed we couldn't progress further.

— Jurģis Kalns, FK Auda Head Coach

This is what European football is all about. The atmosphere was electric, and to contribute with an equalizer makes it even more special. We never lost belief even when falling behind twice. Our fans who traveled deserve this moment, and we're determined to keep this journey going as far as possible.

— Paul O'Neill, Larne FC Forward

The team showed tremendous character and determination throughout both legs. FK Auda proved they belong at this level with their performance, but Larne's experience in these European ties ultimately made the difference in the penalty shootout.

— Aigars Puntuss, Latvian Football Expert

Possession: FK Auda 54% - 46% Larne FC

Shots (On Target): FK Auda 15 (6) - 12 (5) Larne FC

Corners: FK Auda 7 - 5 Larne FC

Fouls: FK Auda 14 - 16 Larne FC

Yellow Cards: FK Auda 2 - 3 Larne FC

Red Cards: FK Auda 0 - 0 Larne FC

Individual Performances:

Abdoul Traore (FK Auda): 1 goal, 3 shots on target, 42 passes, 89% pass accuracy

Paul O'Neill (Larne FC): 1 goal, 2 shots on target, 27 passes, 81% pass accuracy

Rohan Ferguson (Larne FC): 4 saves, 1 penalty save in shootout

Roberts Ozols (FK Auda): 3 saves

Team Comparison:

FK Auda demonstrated superior ball retention with their higher possession percentage, showcasing their technical ability in midfield where Paulo Eduardo completed 57 passes with 91% accuracy. The Latvian side created more opportunities with 15 total shots, though their conversion rate proved insufficient.

Larne FC displayed typical British efficiency, making the most of their chances despite having less of the ball. Their defensive resilience was evident in 18 successful tackles and 15 clearances, with Ryan Nolan contributing 6 defensive interventions. The Northern Irish side's experience in European competition was reflected in their clinical penalty-taking during the shootout.

15': First significant chance as Kader Kone's powerful strike from 20 yards forces Rohan Ferguson into a diving save for Larne FC.

32' GOAL! – FK Auda break the deadlock! Abdoul Traore finishes a well-crafted team move, slotting home after Matheus dos Santos Clemente's clever through ball splits the Larne defense. FK Auda 1-0 Larne FC.

43' GOAL! – Larne FC equalize through Conor McKendry who curls a spectacular free-kick from 25 yards into the top corner, giving Roberts Ozols no chance. FK Auda 1-1 Larne FC.

Half-time: Teams level at 1-1 with both having shown attacking intent. Larne FC adjust their formation slightly, moving to a 4-3-3 to counter Auda's midfield dominance.

67' GOAL! – Substitute Enzo Monteiro restores FK Auda's lead with his first touch! A corner delivery finds him unmarked at the far post, and he powers a header past Ferguson. FK Auda 2-1 Larne FC.

73': Tactical shift as Larne FC introduce two attacking substitutions, switching to a more direct approach with two strikers.

81' GOAL! – Larne FC equalize again! Paul O'Neill finishes from close range after a goalmouth scramble following a corner. FK Auda 2-2 Larne FC.

Extra Time: Despite both teams creating chances, defenses hold firm as fatigue becomes evident.

Penalty Shootout: Larne FC convert all four penalties through Gallagher, O'Neill, Bent, and O'Connor. FK Auda see Nguena's penalty saved by Ferguson, while Camara misses the target. Larne win 4-2 on penalties and advance to the next round.

Prior to this UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying tie, FK Auda and Larne FC had never met in competitive action, making this their first-ever head-to-head encounter. The first leg at Ballymena Showgrounds ended in a goalless draw, with the return fixture in Riga producing a 2-2 thriller before Larne FC's penalty shootout victory.

The cumulative score across both legs stands at 2-2, with Larne FC progressing via penalties. This reflects a remarkably balanced matchup between the Latvian and Northern Irish sides, despite their different footballing backgrounds.

Key Individual Battles:

Abdoul Traore vs. Ryan Nolan: Traore's pace and direct running caused problems for Larne's defensive line, with his goal demonstrating his predatory instincts. However, Nolan grew into the game, making several crucial interventions in the second half to limit Traore's effectiveness.

Paulo Eduardo vs. Chris Gallagher: The midfield battle between Eduardo's technical skill and Gallagher's industrious approach epitomized the stylistic contrast between the teams. Eduardo controlled possession for long periods, completing 57 passes, though Gallagher's tactical discipline ultimately helped Larne manage the game's flow.

Rohan Ferguson vs. Roberts Ozols: Both goalkeepers made important saves throughout, but Ferguson's heroics in the penalty shootout proved decisive. His save from Nguena's penalty was the difference maker, showcasing the importance of specialist preparation for such scenarios.

This fledgling rivalry between clubs from Latvia and Northern Ireland highlights the beauty of European competition in bringing together teams from different footballing cultures. Should they meet again in future tournaments, this dramatic first encounter will certainly be remembered as setting the tone for what could become an interesting cross-regional rivalry.

As this was a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying match, traditional league standings don't apply. However, the teams' current positioning in this competition can be analyzed:

Larne FC:

• Successfully advanced to the third qualifying round of the Conference League
• Will face either FC Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) or FC Prishtina (Kosovo) in the next stage
• Building on last season's achievement of reaching the group stage
• Current form: 15 matches unbeaten across all competitions
• One of only two Northern Irish clubs remaining in European competition this season

FK Auda:

• Eliminated from the 2025/26 UEFA Europa Conference League
• Will now focus solely on domestic competitions
• Made a creditable showing despite elimination, pushing an experienced European campaigner to penalties
• First European campaign in the club's history
• Currently sitting 3rd in the Latvian Higher League with 12 matches remaining

This result continues the trend of teams from stronger footballing nations progressing in European competition, though FK Auda's performance suggests the gap is narrowing. For Larne FC, their Conference League journey continues with realistic ambitions of reaching the group stage for a second consecutive season, which would represent a significant achievement for Northern Irish football.