Riga rewarded the child who 'assisted' in the goal against Vardar
A ball kid's quick return of the ball led to a fast throw-in and a Riga goal; the club later gave the child a special gift.
Riga rewarded the child who "assisted" in the goal against Vardar after a quick restart in the Conference League tie. (01.08.2026 9:45)
Vardar's European stay ended in the second qualifying round of the Conference League this season. The club had been eliminated by KuPS in the first qualifying round of the Champions League and then continued in the Conference League, where Riga knocked them out with an 8:4 aggregate score.
On the return leg in Riga — a match that finished 5:2 in favour of the hosts — a notable moment occurred during one of Riga's attacks on Vardar's goal. A ball kid who was handing out match balls quickly returned the ball to a Riga player, which led to an immediate throw-in and shortly after a Riga goal.
Club rewarded the boy
The incident did not go unnoticed by the Riga organisation. The club presented the child with a special gift in recognition of his rapid action and the unusual "assist" that preceded the goal.
The episode, captured on video and shared on social media, drew attention as an example of how organised clubs sometimes acknowledge small, memorable moments during European fixtures.
Photo: press material from the event
