Auda lead FCSB 3-2 ahead of Conference League return
Latvian side Auda hold a 3-2 aggregate lead over Romanian giants FCSB going into Thursday's UEFA Conference League second qualifying round second leg in Riga, after Kader Kone's stoppage-time winner sealed a dramatic 3-2 away victory in Romania last week and left the hosts needing only to avoid defeat. The auda fcsb return at Sporta komplekss Ķeizarmežs decides who reaches the next round.
Key Takeaways
- Auda lead FCSB 3-2 on aggregate after winning last week's first leg in Romania.
- Kader Kone scored a stoppage-time winner after Auda had led three times away from home.
- A draw is enough for Auda to set up a third-round tie against Aluminij or Dinamo City.
- FCSB, twice Europa League league-phase sides recently, are chasing a response under Marius Baciu.
- Sports Mole tipped a 1-1 draw, with Auda progressing 4-3 on aggregate.
According to BBC Sport, the second leg in Riga opened with the aggregate still reading Auda 3, FCSB 2. That first-leg scoreline is the entire head-to-head story so far between the clubs.
What happened in the Auda vs FCSB first leg?
Auda took the lead on three separate occasions in Romania and still needed late drama to finish the job. Kone netted in the fourth minute of stoppage time to make it 3-2 and give the Latvian Cup winners a slender cushion.
It was Marius Baciu's first defeat since taking charge of FCSB in May. The Romanian club had reached the Europa League league phase in each of the previous two seasons before an eighth-place Superliga finish pushed them into Conference League qualifying.
Why does the auda fcsb second leg matter so much?
Auda are in Conference League qualifying for a fourth straight season and must clear three ties to reach a European main draw for the first time. Avoiding defeat at home would set up a third-round meeting with Aluminij or Dinamo City.
Jurgis Kalns's side have avoided defeat in five of their last six competitive home games, including a 1-0 league win over BFC Daugavpils. More oddball European qualifying tales sit in our Bizarre World hub.
Can FCSB overturn the deficit in Riga?
FCSB bounced back domestically with a 2-0 away win at Csikszereda after earlier beating FC Arges by the same score. Baciu is without Siyabonga Ngezana, Mihai Popescu, Ofri Arad and David Miculescu through injury, with Daniel Birligea expected to lead the line.
Sports Mole predicted Auda 1-1 FCSB, arguing the hosts have already done the hard work in Bucharest. Kick-off was listed for 17:00 BST at Sporta komplekss Ķeizarmežs on 30 July 2026.
Whatever the final whistle brings, the auda fcsb series already carries a clear narrative: a Latvian cup side leading a former European Cup winner, with one home result still left to settle it.