Riga FC pulled off a major upset by defeating Sparta Praha 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League playoff on August 28, 2025. The Latvian champions secured a famous victory at the Skonto Stadium against the heavily favored Czech giants. The only goal of the game came in the second half, sending the home fans into raptures. Riga defended resolutely throughout, repelling Sparta's attacks and showing tremendous organization and heart. This result represents a monumental achievement for Riga FC and gives them a narrow but precious lead to defend in the second leg at the Generali Česká pojišťovna Arena. Sparta Praha, one of the competition favorites, now face a significant challenge to overturn the deficit on home soil.