Salah Eddine Oulad M’Hand scored the goal that sent Riga FC into the league phase of a UEFA competition for the first time in the club’s history.
Riga faced KÍ Klaksvík at Skonto Stadium after the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off had ended 0-0 in the Faroe Islands.
Reginaldo Ramires finally broke the deadlock shortly after half-time, but KÍ captain Páll Klettskarð equalised in the 67th minute.
The situation then became significantly more difficult for Riga when Andrés Salazar was sent off in the 75th minute, leaving the Latvian champions with ten men as extra time approached.
Oulad M’Hand delivers the historic moment
Oulad M’Hand had started the match on the bench, but the former Feyenoord and Arsenal academy midfielder produced the decisive moment after being introduced.
With Riga under pressure late in the game, a poor KÍ pass was intercepted by Oulad M’Hand on the edge of the penalty area. He carried the ball into the box and calmly finished in the 89th minute to restore Riga’s lead.
Riga held on for a 2-1 victory, also winning the tie 2-1 on aggregate.
The goal secured a historic achievement for the club: Riga FC will now compete in the UEFA Conference League league phase for the first time.
After the match, Oulad M’Hand revealed that head coach Adrián Guľa had given him a remarkably straightforward instruction when sending him onto the pitch: score a goal.
He did exactly that.
A huge moment in Oulad M’Hand’s Riga career
The decisive European goal continues an impressive year for Oulad M’Hand in Latvia.
SkyrScout recently highlighted the 2003-born attacking midfielder after his resurgence at Riga FC, where a move into a more central creative role has allowed his technical quality, vision and set-piece ability to become increasingly influential.
His latest contribution carries considerably greater historical significance.
Riga were minutes away from extra time, playing with ten men in a tie that would determine whether the club finally reached the main stage of European competition.
Oulad M’Hand came from the bench and scored the goal that made it happen.