Frankfurt labour to 1-0 over Rigas FS in Europa League

Former champions Eintracht Frankfurt laboured to a 1-0 victory over Latvia's Rigas FS on Thursday and remain unbeaten in the Europa League, reported dpa.

Substitute Hugo Larson scored the winner in the 79th minute into the far left corner after being set up nicely by Omar Marmoush.

The visitors almost levelled a minute later when Adam Markhiyev fired against the crossbar.

Frankfurt failed to break down the Rigas defence in the first half. After the break, Tuta had a goal disallowed for offside, Marmoush and Niels Nkounkou aimed narrowly wide, and an initial penalty for Frankfurt was turned into a free-kick upon review because Marmoush was fouled outside the area by Lasha Odisharia.

But Larson then broke the deadlock to spare the 2022 winners Frankfurt from another home disappointment, after they were held 3-3 by Viktoria Plzen in their opener.

Frankfurt then won 3-1 at Besiktas and now have seven points from three games. Rigas have one point.

"It was a classic hard-earned victory," Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmöller said.

"It wasn't a good game from our side but we won. We happily take the three points we would have liked against Plzen as well."