Kenyan midfielder suffers injury as his Armenian side keeps UEFA Champions League dream alive
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 15.07.26. | 09:48
For the Harambee Stars midfielder, attention now turns to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, where they will take on Irish champions Shamrock Rovers
Harambee Stars midfielder Alwyn Tera was forced off with an injury as Armenian champions Ararat-Armenia booked their place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League despite a 3-2 defeat to Latvian side Riga FC on Tuesday night.
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Tera started the decisive second-leg clash at Skonto Stadium and played 61 minutes before picking up an injury that ended his evening prematurely. His side advanced 4-3 on aggregate after taking a 2-0 advantage from the first leg in Yerevan.
Riga made a bright start after surviving an early scare when goalkeeper Krišjānis Zviedris denied Zhirayr Shaghoyan. The hosts then struck first through Iago Siqueira, who capitalised on a defensive error to cut the aggregate deficit.
The Latvian champions drew level on the night midway through the first half when Ahmed Ankrah unleashed a powerful effort from the edge of the area, making it 2-2 on aggregate and setting up a tense second half.
However, Ararat-Armenia regained control immediately after the restart. Shaghoyan punished a costly mistake by Zviedris to restore the visitors' aggregate advantage before Sandro Lima produced a stunning long-range strike in the 63rd minute to extend their lead to 4-2 overall.
Tera had already left the field two minutes earlier after sustaining an injury, with the Kenyan's condition yet to be disclosed by the club.
Riga mounted a late fightback and were awarded a stoppage-time penalty after a VAR review, which Reginaldo Ramires converted to make it 3-2 on the night. However, the hosts could not find the goal needed to force extra time.
Despite the defeat, Riga FC will continue their European campaign in the UEFA Conference League, where they will face North Macedonian outfit Vardar Skopje.
For Tera and Ararat-Armenia, attention now turns to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, where they will take on Irish champions Shamrock Rovers, with the Kenyan midfielder hoping to recover in time for the tie.