Hamrun Spartans defeated Latvia's RFS in the first leg of the Play‐Offs of the Conference League, taking a 1-0 advantage.

This slender but precious win will put the Spartans in the driv‐ ing seat for the return leg in Latvia next week, a return leg that could set a historic date, with the Spartans aiming to reach the Group stages of the Conference League ‐ a first for Maltese football.

Hamrun were the better team throughout the whole match and fully deserved their victory. They held territorial advantage for long stretches and always held the initiative with RFS always ready to hit back with their counter attacks.

Goal scoring chances were however very few, and apart from the goal scored by Hamrun.

RFS had only a glorious opportunity in the opening minutes of the match.

The return leg will be no walk in the park for Hamrun, who must be at their best to preserve Thioune's precious goal.

That all-important goal came on 55 minutes when Eder won a precious ball and served Joseph Mbong who crossed towards Thioune who first‐timed low into the net.

RFS' best and only chance came after a couple of minutes when the fast and dangerous Mor Talla was alone in front of goal but his shot just missed the base of the upright by a whisker.

Ħamrun S: Bonello, Compri, Bjelicic, Polito, Camenzuli, Simkus, Ederson, Coric, Mbong, Thioune, Koffi

RFS: Maric, Savalnieks, Fil‐ ipovic, Lipuscek, Zelenkovs, Panic, Rakic, Diedhiou, Wouter, Talla, Lemajic

Referee: Ashot Ghaltakhchyan (Armenia)