RFS vs Kuopion: Resumen

FK Rīgas Futbola Skola and Kuopion PS battled to a thrilling encounter at LNK Sporta Parks in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round on August 6, 2025. The Latvian champions hosted their Finnish counterparts in what proved to be a tactical chess match under the warm Riga evening sky.

The atmosphere at LNK Sporta Parks was electric, with local supporters filling the stands in the hope of seeing their team take a crucial advantage into the second leg. The significance of this fixture couldn't be overstated – both clubs having dropped down from Champions League qualification, now fighting for progression in Europe's second-tier competition.

RFS, standing second in the Latvian Higher League and still smarting from their Champions League elimination at the hands of Malmö, displayed remarkable resilience against the Finnish champions. The home side controlled much of the possession, with coach Viktors Morozs implementing a disciplined tactical approach that limited KuPS's renowned counter-attacking threat.

KuPS, under the guidance of Jarkko Wiss, demonstrated why they've been so formidable on European away days, having lost just once in their previous ten continental road trips. Their organized defensive shape frustrated RFS for long periods, with goalkeeper Johannes Kreidl making several crucial interventions.

The result leaves this tie finely balanced heading into the return leg in Finland on August 14. Both teams know that advancement to the Europa League playoff round – where either Fredrikstad or Midtjylland awaits – remains very much up for grabs. For RFS, maintaining their impressive European home form was crucial, while KuPS will feel confident returning to familiar territory for the decisive second leg.

"We showed good tactical discipline today against a very organized KuPS side. Our position in the tie remains positive, though we perhaps could have capitalized better on our home advantage. The atmosphere was fantastic, and I believe our supporters will travel to Finland with optimism for the second leg," remarked Viktors Morozs, RFS head coach.

"It's half-time in the tie, and we're satisfied with our performance away from home. RFS proved why they're Latvian champions with their technical quality, but I'm proud of how our players implemented our game plan. The return leg in Kuopio will be different, and we feel confident playing in front of our supporters," stated Jarkko Wiss, KuPS manager.

"The intensity was high throughout. We know our European journey is important not just for our club but for Latvian football. We created chances but couldn't find the breakthrough against a disciplined Finnish defense. Everything remains open for the second leg," said Darko Lemajič, RFS forward.

"Playing away in European competition is always challenging, but we showed our experience today. RFS have technical players who can hurt you if given time, so our defensive organization was crucial. We're in a good position now returning to Finland," commented Petteri Pennanen, KuPS midfielder.

"Both teams displayed tactical maturity in this first leg. RFS perhaps shaded possession and territory, but KuPS's European experience showed in how they managed the game. The Finnish side will be favorites on their home turf, but this tie remains very much in the balance," analyzed former Latvian international Vitālijs Astafjevs for Latvian television.

Possession: RFS dominated the ball with 59% possession compared to KuPS's 41%, reflecting the home side's territorial advantage throughout much of the contest.

Shots: The Latvian champions registered 14 attempts at goal with 5 on target, while the Finnish visitors were more economical with 8 shots total and 3 finding the target.

Corners: RFS forced 7 corner kicks to KuPS's 3, highlighting their sustained pressure, particularly during a dominant spell in the second half.

Discipline: A relatively clean match saw RFS cautioned twice (Stuglis and Mareš), while KuPS received yellows for Oksanen and Cissé for tactical fouls.

Key Player Performances:

Roberts Veips (RFS goalkeeper) made 3 saves and demonstrated confident distribution, completing 89% of his passes.

Haruna Rasid Njie was the creative fulcrum for RFS, completing 42 passes in the final third and creating 3 chances for teammates.

Jaakko Oksanen controlled the midfield for KuPS with an impressive 91% pass completion rate despite the pressure from RFS.

Johannes Kreidl was outstanding between the posts for KuPS, making 5 saves including a spectacular stop from Lemajič's close-range effort in the 67th minute.

Distance Covered: RFS collectively ran 112.4 kilometers compared to KuPS's 108.7, reflecting the higher-intensity pressing game employed by the home side under Morozs's instructions.

15': Early tactical pattern established with RFS controlling possession while KuPS set up in a compact 4-3-3 formation, looking dangerous on transitions.

32': First significant opportunity fell to RFS when Tayrell Wouter's powerful drive from 20 meters forced a fingertip save from Johannes Kreidl, resulting in a corner that came to nothing.

45': Half-time substitution by KuPS as manager Wiss introduced Bob Nii Armah for the cautioned Jaakko Oksanen, looking to add fresh energy in midfield.

58': Tactical shift from RFS coach Morozs, moving from a 4-2-3-1 to a more aggressive 4-4-2 with Lemajič and Mareš operating as a strike partnership.

67': Match's most dramatic moment saw Darko Lemajič's header from six yards brilliantly saved by Kreidl after Savaļnieks delivered a pinpoint cross from the right flank.

75': KuPS's best chance arrived through Mohamed Touré, whose counter-attacking run and shot required a smart save from Roberts Veips at his near post.

88': Late pressure from RFS resulted in consecutive corners, but KuPS defended resolutely with Cissé making a crucial headed clearance from beneath his own crossbar.

This UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round marks the first-ever competitive meeting between FK Rīgas Futbola Skola and Kuopion PS, adding an element of uncertainty to an already finely balanced tie. With no historical precedent to draw upon, both teams approached this initial encounter with a degree of caution.

While the clubs haven't previously met, there are interesting parallels in their recent European campaigns. Both sides entered this Europa League qualifying round after elimination from Champions League qualification – RFS falling to Sweden's Malmö and KuPS being knocked out despite initially holding an advantage in their tie.

The tactical battle between coaches Viktors Morozs and Jarkko Wiss proved fascinating. Morozs favored a possession-based approach, utilizing the technical abilities of Haruna Rasid Njie and Marko Marić to control the tempo. Wiss, conversely, set his team up to absorb pressure and threaten on transitions through the pace of Mohamed Touré and the physicality of Bob Nii Armah after his introduction.

Key individual duels emerged across the pitch. The contest between RFS forward Darko Lemajič and KuPS defender Otto Ruoppi was particularly compelling, with neither gaining a clear advantage. In midfield, Petr Mareš and Jaakko Oksanen engaged in a chess match of positioning and distribution.

Looking ahead to the second leg in Finland, KuPS will draw confidence from their impressive European home record, while RFS will need to demonstrate the same away resilience that has characterized their domestic form. With no historical advantage to either side, this budding rivalry's first chapter suggests the return fixture in Kuopio could be equally closely contested.

This UEFA Europa League qualifier comes at a time when both clubs are in strong positions domestically. In the Latvian Higher League, FK Rīgas Futbola Skola currently sits in second place with 39 points from 20 matches, trailing leaders Valmiera by just 3 points with a game in hand. Having successfully defended their Latvian title last season, RFS remains on course for another championship challenge.

Kuopion PS occupies 11th position in the 12-team Veikkausliiga, but this standing is somewhat misleading. The Finnish league operates on a different calendar, and KuPS has several games in hand on their competitors due to their European commitments. As reigning Finnish champions, they remain within striking distance of the European qualification places despite their congested fixture list.

Both teams' domestic form adds context to this European encounter. RFS has been particularly formidable at home in Latvia, having lost just once at LNK Sporta Parks all season. Meanwhile, KuPS has displayed remarkable resilience on the road in both domestic and continental competition.

For RFS, progression in the Europa League would represent continued growth on the European stage after their Champions League elimination. KuPS, meanwhile, sees the Europa League as a chance to build on their impressive European away record and potentially reach the group stages of a European competition – a significant achievement for Finnish football.