Wrexham's Women’s Champions League hopes crumble in Riga

Wrexham, the Adran Premier champions, saw their debut European campaign end with a 4-1 loss to Latvian side Riga FC in the Women’s Champions League qualifying second round, a match that concluded on a Wednesday evening. The Welsh club had entered the tie after winning the Adran Premier for the first time in the 2025-26 season, a triumph captured by Getty Images.

In the first half, Wrexham took the lead early. Lili Jones scored her second European goal in the ninth minute at the Racecourse, putting the Adran Premier champions ahead 1-0 until the 50th minute. The early strike highlighted the club’s ambition in the Women’s Champions League.

Wrexham pressed for a second goal before the break. Forward Faye Knox and midfielder Natasha Thomas each came close to extending the lead, while Riga’s Nikola Preijere threatened to level the score when his effort rattled the post. Riga also generated wing play, testing the Wrexham defence.

The second half saw a dramatic shift. Latvian title holders Riga responded with quickfire goals from Japanese midfielder Minami Oi and Sierra Leonean forward Kumba Brima after the restart, overturning the deficit.

Further goals followed as teenage substitute Laura Kallase and Shiori Kato each added a strike, sealing Riga’s dominance and ensuring their progression to the next round of the Women’s Champions League.

Riga’s quality was evident throughout the season; the club won all 24 of its league games in 2025 and had previously beaten Glentoran, with Kumba Brima scoring twice in that encounter. Their comprehensive performance underscored the challenge Wrexham faced.

Wrexham’s earlier European success, including a 4-2 victory over Armenian champions FC Pyunik, could not offset the defeat. Lili Jones, who opened the scoring, and the rest of the squad will now reflect on their first‑ever Adran Premier title and the lessons from their European exit, as reported by Getty Images.