Sebastian Nebyla's equaliser four minutes into the second half earned Jablonec a 1-1 draw with Riga at Skonto Stadium after Reginaldo Ramires had put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot — a result that leaves both sides still searching for a first Conference League win.
Ramires converted his spot-kick on 35 minutes to give Riga the lead their pressure deserved, but Nebyla replied on 49 minutes from Dominik Holly's assist. Riga thought they had retaken the lead four minutes later, only for Salah Oulad's goal to be disallowed by VAR, and despite 59 per cent possession and 12 shots the Latvians could not force a winner. Both teams move from one point to two.
Ramires penalty rewards Riga's pressure
Riga started the night knowing that, with both sides on a single point, this was close to a must-win if their league-phase campaign was to stay alive — and they played like it. The hosts pressed Jablonec high, dominated the ball and forced the Czech side into long spells of defending inside their own half.
The breakthrough arrived on 35 minutes from the penalty spot. Ramires, Riga's Brazilian focal point, took responsibility and converted to make it 1-0 — a goal that reflected the balance of play and gave the Skonto Stadium crowd real belief that a first European win of the campaign was coming. The full match timeline and statistics are available in the Sportradar match centre.
Jablonec, however, emerged for the second half with far more intent, and within four minutes they were level. Holly created the opening and Nebyla finished it on 49 minutes, silencing the home crowd and shifting the momentum of the game in a single move.
VAR denies Oulad as Riga push in vain
The game's defining moment arrived on 53 minutes. Riga swept forward, Oulad found the net and Skonto Stadium erupted — only for the celebrations to be cut short when VAR disallowed the goal. It was the closest either side came to a winner, and the frustration for the hosts was obvious: for the second time in the match they had the ball in the net, and for the second time the game restarted level.
To their credit, Riga kept pushing. Twelve shots and 59 per cent possession tell the story of a home side that controlled most of the contest, but Jablonec defended their box with discipline in the final half-hour and their goalkeeper was protected well. Nebyla's equaliser, meanwhile, underlined his growing importance to this Jablonec side — a midfielder arriving at the right moment to score the goal his team desperately needed.
So what does this draw actually mean?
Both sides move to two points from three matches, and both remain without a win in this Conference League campaign. The play-off places are not out of reach yet, but the margin for error has almost gone: realistically, both Riga and Jablonec now need to win at least two of their remaining three fixtures to keep their European seasons alive. On a night when other sides in similar positions found a way to win — our report on Thun's 3-1 victory over Hearts is a case in point — a point each in Riga feels like an opportunity missed by both dressing rooms.
Riga will rue the VAR decision and their failure to convert territorial dominance into a second goal. Jablonec will take the point on the road, but know that draws alone will not be enough from here.
Beyond the Final Whistle verdict: Riga did enough to win this — more possession, more shots, a penalty converted and a goal chalked off by VAR — but Nebyla's ruthless reply is a lesson in taking your one big chance. Two points from three games leaves both sides with a mountain to climb. Which of these two can still rescue their campaign — Riga or Jablonec? Let us know what you think in the comments.
