Larne 0-4 RFS (UEFA Champions League Qualifiers)
I've pencilled in a couple of days in Northern Ireland and my trip starts with domestic league champions Larne and their visit of Latvian league winners RFS to Inver Park.
It's the first ever time Champions League football has been played on this patch in Antrim, although last season, Larne played HJK Helsinki at Solitude in Belfast in the second leg of a thrilling qualifying tie, their recent history has been pretty impressive, backed by Purple Bricks co-founder Kenny Bruce, the reds from the North Coast have had regular seasons playing European football and won their second successive NIFL Championship in April, wrestling the stronghold from the usual suspects of Linfield, Glentoran, Cliftonville, Crusaders and co.
Funny enough I've actually seen RFS play before. In 2019 my stag do in Riga just so happened to include a football match (of course it did), the biggest in the country too, at the Skonto Stadium. Riga beating visitors RFS that day 2-0, and there's a viral dance clip that can be found on the web, mostly of twenty lads from Nottingham raving outside the ground following the hosts victory.
That victory helped Riga to a run of three titles in a row but RFS have fought back in recent seasons, they won a first ever title in 2021, backed that up in 2023 and are on course to win a third championship in four years with a seven point gap on their rivals in second place after 22 matches of the season played.
Rigas Futbola Skola (RFS) are 3-0 up from the first leg and are clear favourites to go through but it's a special day nonetheless for the people of Larne who get to see their team play, in their own town, hosting Champions League football, with over 3,000 packed into Inver Park, a modern day record attendance to boast.
The Venue
I've got a bit of time before the game so take a walk around the town centre which is a little underwhelming, it's quiet and eerie with not much open to choose from but there's a Dutch Doner Kebab house open and I'm starving. So it looks worth a try.
In fairness it's very good, as I choose a park bench to eat it on with a can of coke to wash it down with, before making my way under the fly over and onto Inver Road. The grounds floodlights beside the A8 as a great big block of flats hogs the skyline.
The walk is serene as I make way up the hill, plenty of fans now on journey all wearing red and white, a bus shelter is decked out in everything Larne FC. You can tell there's money been spent on the place as I walk into the 1889 Sports & Social Club where there's a singer in the beer garden and plenty going off outdoor for the kids.
I have a quick pint of Hop House as I'm overseas and getting holiday vibes, just one, before finding my seat in the Main Stand, perched up on the back row, a tight squeeze near half way, the ground is lovely internally, three sides have seating, the opposite end open, those flats above the end to my right, where an idyllic church top also joins the horizon, that stand boasting the changing rooms and a glazed corner which I'm told today is being used for 'VIP'.
The Game
There's around 15 RFS fans who have made the trip from Latvia. All housed far corner of the stand behind the goal to my left. The stand I'm in packed to the rafters by locals as the two teams come out to a standing ovation.
The visitors are more technical, but Larne have fire in their belly and start on the front foot. They fight for every ball, a little too much, as the opening half hour sees them rack up four bookings to the oppositions two.
They've been the better side of large parts but RFS look good on the break, and when Brazilian winger Emerson Deocleciano cuts in from the left onto his curling right foot, the outcome is bleak for the home side.
Soon, Lemajic doubles advantage with another cracker from outside the area, then Larne get in a mess on the edge of their box, gifting the ball to Ikaunieks who slots home a third, it should be nil nil at the break at least for Larne who battle well for 38 minutes, but their dropped standards allow RFS to up-gear and with their first three shots they find the net with all to have a healthy unassailable lead at the break. 6-0 on aggregate.
The Score
Only ten minutes into the second half and lively winger Ismael Diomande gets a fourth after dancing his way into the box following a neat pass by Ikaunieks. It's a one sided and impressive performance from a team who grow stronger in confidence and work rate as the game goes on.
RFS make several subs which only strengthens their hand. Njieh impresses off the bench in midfield, as does Odisharia who dances around defenders for fun. Cedric Kouadio is top heavy but is also having fun with flicks and tricks and no look passes. Diomande still on the pitch is sometimes unplayable with his speed and endless stepovers.
It's a joy to see such a strong squad of athletes, but it's a frustrating watch if you're a Larne fan, many have already left, as Tiernan Lynch brings on his full array of subs, they try hard and battle, but by now it's too late, the away side victorious as they see out the game with confidence. If the first half was tighter than the scoreline suggested, the second 45 were played at a canter in the favour of the Latvian league leaders.
The Stars
Brazilian winger Emerson had trickery whilst number nine Ikaunieks had presence and vision, the back three were solid with Prenga in particular the pick of the defenders and in midfield their athleticism looked too much for Larne, but their shining light above all was Ismael Diomande who had a hand in a couple of goals and scored one himself, his fast feet and trickery too much for the Larne defenders to deal with, a player who's goalscoring record is good, and at 20 years old, he could go on to achieve something in the European game?
For Larne, plenty of gritty performances but the quality was severely lacking. Their left side of Ives and McKendry linking well but to little effect. I was looking forward to seeing former Arsenal Academy midfielder Mark Randall, now 34, strut his stuff with experience and silky smooth passing, but saw none of it, the game too quick for his ageing legs as he was often harassed and too often gave the ball away.
The Verdict
Larne will drop into the Europa Conference for another stab at European football but on this showing will do well to progress, or even win a third straight Irish championship, but hats off to RFS who are stronger than you might imagine.
RFS might not be strong enough to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League but don't rule out another route and a good run in the Europa themselves. That win their seventh in succession, unbeaten in fourteen, their only dropped points a 2-2 draw with Riga in June.
The Teams
Larne: Rohan Ferguson, Tom Cosgrove, Cian Bolger, Aaron Donnelly, Levi Ives, Mark Randall (Dylan Sloan 60), Chris Gallagher (Paul O'Neill 73), Sean Graham (Baris Altintop 77), Matthew Lusty (Lee Bonus 60), Andy Ryan, Conor McKendry (Joseph Thomson 73).
RFS: Fabrice Ondoa, Daniels Balodis, Herdi Prenga, Ziga Lipusciek, Janis Ikaunieks (Martins Kigurs 60), Adam Markhiev (Harona Njie 46), Stefan Panic, Pete Mares (Rostano Ndjiki 73), Ismael Diomande, Darko Lemajic (Cedric Kouadio 60), Emerson Deocleciano (Lasha Odisharia 60).
8:00pm Kick Off. Wednesday 17th July 2024, Inver Park, Larne (att 2,030).
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