The visitors have the ball in the back of the net but it is ruled out.

It is Rostand Ndjiki who thinks he has scored for RFS, but referee Ross Hardie blows his whistle and it won't count.

The first 45 minutes come to an end.

What a brilliant first half it has been. Will we get the same in the second?

A long Glentoran throw-in from the left is headed clear by an RFS defender as far as Josh Kelly on the edge of the box, who strikes on the volley but can't keep his effort down as it sails over the crossbar.

The visitors look threatening every time they go forward but the Glentoran defence are standing firm.

Declan Devine's side have grown back into the game in the last five minutes after a spell of sustained RFS pressure.

A CSKA Sofia cross finds Bruno Jordao completely unmarked on the edge of the box, but he can't get his shot away in time.

It remains 1-1.

After a nervy start RFS are beginning to take control of proceeds and are camped inside the Glentoran half.

The visitors have created a few half chances, but are yet to force goalkeeper Billy Crellin into a save.

The hosts come agonisingly close to taking the lead within a minute!

New signing Zeno Rossi rises highest to meet Ryan Cooney's free-kick, but sees his header slide just wide of the far post.

Not far away from the dream start for the Glens.

Off we go at the Oval.

Can Glentoran produce a magical European night in east Belfast, or will RFS prove too strong?

Glentoran boss Declan Devine names a strong starting XI to face the Latvian Virsliga leaders RFS in this UEFA Conference League first round qualifier at The Oval.

James Singleton captains the Glens with Pat Hoban leading the line. There is also a start for new signing Zeno Ibsen Rossi in the heart of defence, with Josh Kelly starting in midfield following his loan spell at Cliftonville for the second half of last season.

Rhys Walsh, who re-signed for the east Belfast side after two years across the water with Sunderland, is amongst the substitutes.

Latvian media in the press box have highlighted Janis Ikaunieks and Rostand Ndjiki as two big threats for the visitors.

Glentoran: Crellin, Cooney, Larmour, Rossi, Singleton (c), Malone, Kelly, McEneff, Thomson, Jenkins, Hoban.

Subs: Mills, Donnelly, Kane, Clarke, Stewart, Daniels, Lindsay, Walsh, Weatherup, Faloona, Rogers-Duffy, Douglas.

RFS: Nerugals, Kumater, Lipuscek, Prenga, Filipovic, Panic, Saidy, Zelenkovs, Ikaunieks, Diomande, Ndjiki.

Subs: Matrevics, Vilkovs, Savalnieks, Veips, Rakic, Kigurs, Kouadio, Mankenda, Odsharia, Lemajic.

So close!

Derry almost find themselves a leveller as Ellis Chapman's shot is parried just wide of the post.

It's game on.

Since the free-kick, neither team has really tested their opposing goalkeeper.

The free-kick effort from Petko Panayotov glances just over the crossbar.

Patrick McClean's boot seems to have caught Isaac Solet's arm, and the home side now have the first free-kick of the game.

This is a good chance for CSKA Sofia.

CSKA Sofia are looking promising in their attack so far.

We are under way in Sofia and, I have got to say, the atmosphere looks amazing.

Can the Candystripes register a positive result in this tough match?

Bruno Jordao captains CSKA Sofia this evening with Godoy and Pittas leading the line.

Derry City are captained tonight by Michael Duffy, who starts on the left, with Ellis Chapman and Liam Boyce leading the attack.

CSKA Sofia: Lapoukhov, Pastor, Rodrigues, Ivanov, Martino, Jordao, Panayotov, Sensi, Godoy, Pittas.

Derry City: Maher, Barr, Grogan, McClean, Slevin, Cotter, Olayinka, Dummigan, Duffy (C), Boyce, Chapman.

Glentoran have completed the signing of Zeno Ibsen Rossi following the central defender's departure from Cambridge United.

The 25-year-old came through the Brentford, Southampton and Bournemouth academies before signing his first professional deal with the latter in 2019.

He made four Championship appearances in the 2021-22 season as the Cherries earned promotion back to the Premier League.

Ibsen Rossi also had loan spells with Kilmarnock and Dundee before joining Cambridge in 2022.

The Englishman moves to the Oval following a loan stint at League of Ireland Premier Division side Shelbourne earlier this year.

"I've reached a stage in my career where I want to keep pushing myself and taking on new challenges," he said.

"I feel I've developed a lot over the last few years playing in England, Scotland and Ireland, and now I'm looking forward to bringing that experience here and doing everything I can to help the team be successful.

Ibsen Rossi becomes Glentoran's second signing this summer following the arrival of midfielder Greg Sloggett.

Glentoran finished second in the 2025-26 Irish Premiership and lost the Bet McLean Cup final to Linfield.

Image source, Glentoran