Auda celebrate their opening goalImage source, Pacemaker
Image caption,

Cliftonville twice fell behind in their first leg defeat at Solitude

Cliftonville face a daunting challenge in the away leg of their Uefa Conference League second-round qualifier after succumbing to a 2-1 defeat by FK Auda at Solitude.

The Reds' European aspirations hang in the balance after they failed to capitalise on home advantage in the first leg of the tie, leaving the Irish Cup winners with a mountain to climb in the return fixture.

The Latvian side silenced the passionate Solitude crowd when breaking the deadlock in the 32nd minute. The Cliftonville defence was caught flat-footed as El Hadj Mane's teasing corner caused havoc in the six-yard box.

The opportunistic Abiodun Ogunniyi pounced on the confusion, volleying with precision beyond a stranded David Odumosu and sending shockwaves through the home support.

However, the Reds' response was swift and emphatic. Just seven minutes later, debutant Luke Conlan drew the hosts level as Bruno Tavares floundered under the pressure of Shea Gordon's whipped corner. Conlan seized the moment, rifling the ball past Krisjanis Zviedris.

The match ebbed and flowed thereafter as both sides jostled for supremacy. Yet, it was Zoran Zeljkovic's charges who landed the decisive blow with 13 minutes remaining.

The experienced Jonny Addis misjudged his challenge on the elusive Abdulrahman Taiwo who then calmly slotted past Odumosu for his second goal of the campaign to leave Cliftonville's European dreams hanging by a thread.

Cliftonville will rue a catalogue of missed opportunities before Auda's winner.

As early as the 15th minute they had threatened to take the lead when a moment of attacking brilliance saw Sean Stewart deliver an inch-perfect cross from the left flank.

The returning Ruaidhri Donnelly met it with purpose, his effort destined for the net until Auda captain Zviedris produced a save of breath-taking quality, stretching every sinew to deny the frontman.

Just after the hour mark, Stewart's tantalizing cross eluded Ryan Curran and Donnelly in the six-yard area, exasperating the Solitude faithful.

The near misses continued when, four minutes before the decisive winning goal, centre-back Addis unleashed a thunderbolt from distance. Yet again, the inspired Zviedris proved equal to the task, acrobatically palming the ball to safety.

Despite the setback, Jim Magilton's charges must now win the return leg in Latvia for what would be only their sixth European victory in 42 attempts.