Conference League qualifying: RFS come from behind as Dinamo Tbilisi, Shkendija prevail

Thursday saw 21 of the 26 first legs take place, with the other five occurring on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Latvian Virsliga runner ups RFS managed to come from a goal down to top Glentoran 2-1 away. Martins Kigurs scored both goals for the side from Riga after Zeno Ibsen Rossi had put the Northern Irish club ahead.

RFS, who have only been around for 10 years, have reached the group phase of both the Europa League and Conference League in their short existence, and have reached at least the playoff round in three of the last four seasons. They remain unbeaten against sides from Northern Ireland (3-2-0), having knocked out Linfield and Larne previously.

Dinamo Tbilisi, winners of the 1980/81 UEFA Cup Winners Cup, scored twice in the first 20 minutes as they earned a 2-1 success on their travels as well against Luxembourg's Mondorf-les-Bains.

The record Georgian champions missed out on Europe last term, and have not progressed from a two-legged tie since 2019/20. They are looking to make it back to the group phase for the first time since 2004/05, when they participated in the UEFA Cup proper.

There were several recent participants in the UECL league phase that started their difficult task of making it back this week. North Macedonia's Shkendija were among the most convincing winners, with Fabrice Tamba's brace helping them to a 5-0 defeat of Europa FC. The Gibraltarian outfit failed to register a shot on target in the match. Also winning by the same scoreline were FCI Levadia Tallinn, who beat Caernarfon Town away.

Late goals also were a theme in this opening week of action. Borja Morales was Atletic Club d'Escaldes' hero as the Spaniard scored a 94th minute winner - his second of the game - as his side defeated Mornar Bar 2-1. Bartol Barisic also scored in the same minute for Bosnia's FK Sarajevo as they avoided defeat in a 1-1 draw versus Inter Turku of Finland.

Andorra's other UECL participant, FC Santa Coloma, got past Penybont 1-0 in Wales, with the home side failing to convert a penalty. That was the score in Estonia as well, where Nomme Kalju triumphed over Linfield.

Malta's Hamrun Spartans, who featured in the league phase last term, were held to a 1-1 stalemate in the Faroe Islands against NSI Runavik. Tobias Bjornstad drew the visitors level shortly before the hour mark after they went behind in the first half.

Other former group phase sides saw mixed results. Alashkert, for instance, needed an 86th minute goal to earn a 1-1 home draw against European debutants Yelimay. Fellow Armenian side Pyunik managed to prevail, beating Marsaxlokk 3-0.

Astana came out on top 1-0 at Dinamo Tirana, though Dinamo Minsk were beaten 1-0 by North Macedonian side Sileks.

The first games of this season's Conference League were on Tuesday, where UNA Strassen's Nicolas Perez netted the first goal with five minutes to go. That helped his side defeat La Fiorita 1-0 at home to take a first leg lead to San Marino next Tuesday, where the first team to be eliminated from Europe will be confirmed. This past Tuesday also had a 1-1 draw between AF Elbasani and BATE Borisov.

Wednesday will have two matches, before the remaining 23 first qualifying round deciders will take place the day after.