According to LETA, FK Liepāja suffered a 0–2 defeat against Austria Wien during the first leg of the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round on Thursday at Jūrmala’s Sloka Stadium. The Latvian club was forced to relocate from Liepāja due to pitch damage caused by a Brainstorm (“Prāta vētra”) music concert held at their home venue the previous Saturday.
Match Breakdown and Austrian Goals
The scoring opened in the 17th minute when Florian Wustinger capitalized on a free-kick delivered by Johannes Eggestein. Wustinger gathered the ball inside the penalty area and fired a semi-volley beneath the crossbar, putting the Austrian side ahead 1–0, as reported by LETA.
Austria Wien doubled their advantage in the 55th minute. Following another setup by Eggestein, Moritz Wels found the back of the net to extend the visitors’ lead to 2–0. FK Liepāja managed no response over the remaining minutes, leaving them with a two-goal deficit heading into the return leg.
Did you know? FK Liepāja had to play their home European fixture at Jūrmala’s Sloka Stadium because a Brainstorm (“Prāta vētra”) concert held in Liepāja severely compromised the turf conditions just days prior to the match.
European Campaign Context and Historical Background
FK Liepāja advanced to the second qualifying round after eliminating Montenegro’s FK Dečić 3–1 on aggregate in the opening round. Domestically, FK Liepāja currently sits in fifth place in the Latvian Higher League (Virslīga), according to match records.
Austria Wien entered the competition directly in the second qualifying round. The Austrian club holds 24 league titles and 27 Austrian Cup trophies, competing in UEFA tournaments since the 1960–1961 season with a notable appearance in the 1977–1978 European Cup Winners’ Cup final. Last season, Austria Wien reached the third round of the Conference League before falling 3–4 on aggregate to Czech club FC Baník Ostrava.
Next Steps in the Qualification Path
The return fixture will take place in Vienna in one week. The aggregate winner of the FK Liepāja and Austria Wien pairing will advance to the third qualifying round to face the winner between Beitar Jerusalem and AEK Larnaca from Cyprus, per tournament projections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did FK Liepāja play their home match in Jūrmala?
The match was moved to Jūrmala’s Sloka Stadium because the pitch at Liepāja’s home venue was damaged during a Brainstorm music concert held the Saturday before the fixture.
What was the final score of the first leg?
Austria Wien defeated FK Liepāja 2–0, with goals scored by Florian Wustinger and Moritz Wels.
Who will the winner of this tie face next?
The aggregate winner will face the winner of the matchup between Beitar Jerusalem and AEK Larnaca in the third qualifying round.
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