Riga FC snatched a dramatic 2–1 win over FK Auda on Matchday 3, sealing the result with a stoppage-time goal in the 94th minute.
Mežaparks Sports Village (Riga, Latvia) — 20 March, 2026
The matchup offered a fascinating narrative, proving to be an engaging watch. Despite their 5th-place finish in the 2025 Virslīga season, FK Auda defied the odds by beating the league champions, Riga FC, 1-2 to lift the Latvian Football Cup.
The two sides also faced in the Latvian Supercup back in this year’s February, in Mardan Sports Complex (Antalya, Turkey), where Riga FC took revenge on FK Auda and celebrated the title after a massive 4-1 win. The pre-match predictions for this encounter indicated a tough and very physical challenge from both teams.
FK Auda, led by its French coach Didier Zanetti, started the game and played in 4-1-4-1 formation. Through the offensive play, they tried to take the advantages of the wingers’ (Jayen Gerold on the left, and Barthélémy Diedhiou on the right) great pace and dribbling skills, supplementing the two attacking midfielders’ (Edvin Bongemba as AML, Wally Fofana as AMR) dynamic and brave play. The physically outstanding Panamanian youth international Josué Vergara (2007 born) played as alone striker (in Target man role), whose mobility, ball holding play and physicality were heavily relied upon during the attacks. The whole team demonstrated likeable, offensive minded attitude, fighting to the final whistle to win.
Riga FC on the opposition side, coached by Slovakian Adrián Guľa, opted for 4-2-3-1 formation. They presented quick one-touch passes and combinations through the build-up / offensive play. The main tactic was focused on to control the play in the crucial areas of the pitch, and also to showcase resilience and tenacity under FK Auda‘s increased physical pressure. In the opposite of the home team’s Target man (Vergara), Riga FC played also with one striker (Brazilian Reginaldo Ramires), but in a more mobile role: he often moved back to the half-way line and/or near the flanks to offer support for the teammates with quick (one-touch) passes, even by backheel, to speed up the attacks. Ghanaian defensive midfielder Ahmed Ankrah turned to be the key player, as he made a lot of crucial ball recoveries and tackles in the midfield.
Riga FC took the lead in the 1st minute, by the header of their Colombian left-back Andrés Salazar (0-1). In the 19th minute, home side FK Auda leveled the score, by Josué Vergara‘s penalty (1-1). The guests took all the three points at the end, thanks to a winner hit in the extra time scored by substitution player Mohamed Badamosi, who came onto the pitch ten minutes before (1-2).
(Riga FC striker Mohamed Badamosi, with the decisive hit — 1-2)
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