Glentoran have a one-goal deficit to turn around in Riga after RFS came out on top by two goals to one in the first leg of a hard-fought Uefa Conference League first round qualifier at the BetMcLean Oval.

Making their return to European football after a two-year hiatus the Glens gave their fans plenty to cheer about as new recruit Zeno Rossi headed them in front on 38 minutes.

But the Latvian side drew themselves level right on the half-time whistle as Martins Kigurs fired home at the second attempt.

Rossi went close again after the break but it was the visitors who grabbed the crucial second goal as Kigurs doubled his and RFS’ tally for the night with 20 minutes to go.

Glens boss Declan Devine handed Rossi his full debut hours after his signing was confirmed by the club, while another new arrival, Rhys Walsh, who returned to east Belfast after two years at Sunderland, was named amongst the substitutes.

Former Bournemouth defender Rossi almost made an immediate impact as his header on two minutes from a Ryan Cooney set-piece flew narrowly wide of the target.

The visitors grew into the game and started to see more of the ball but without really troubling Billy Crellin in the home net.

At the other end Josh Kelly connected with a clearance on the edge of the RFS box, but his effort on the quarter hour flew over the bar.

Rostand Ndjiki had the ball in the net for RFS on 20 minutes but it was quickly ruled out by referee Ross Hardie.

Five minutes later Aaron McEneff picked up the loose ball on the edge of the box, but he too failed to keep his effort on target.

As we moved towards half-time the Glens edged in front and it was that man Rossi who capped his debut with a goal, rising highest to head home Cooney’s corner despite the best efforts of visiting keeper Jevgenijs Nerugals.

But right on the whistle RFS drew themselves level as Kigurs reacted quickest to fire home at the second attempt after Crellin had pushed his initial effort onto the post.

Into the second half and Rossi was still proving to be a real threat in the opposition area this time getting on the end of a Jack Malone free-kick, but he couldn’t get enough power on the header to really trouble Nerugals.

RFS threatened again as we approached the hour mark as Stefan Panic linked up with Ndjiki before firing over the bar.

Ndjiki carved out another great opportunity for the visitors with just over 20 minutes to go as he teed up the unmarked Kigurs, but the first half goal scorer failed to hit the target with just Crellin to beat.

But minutes later Kigurs was to make amends, firing his side in front with a long-range effort which took a nasty bounce in front of Crellin before flying into the net.

Glentoran pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but they couldn’t find it meaning they will head to Latvia next week looking to overturn a one-goal deficit.

Glentoran 1 – 2 RFS

Starting XI: Crellin, Cooney, Larmour, Rossi, Singleton (c), Malone, Kelly, McEneff, Thomson, Jenkins, Hoban.

Subs: Mills, Donnelly, Kane, Clarke, Stewart, Daniels, Lindsay, Walsh, Weatherup, Faloona, Rogers-Duffy, Douglas.