Richard Lecky (centre) is congratulated after putting the Ports ahead

Portadown were denied victory in Thursday's Europa League first qualifying round first leg clash as Skonto Riga hit a last-gasp equaliser.

Skonto hit the woodwork twice early on but Richard Lecky put the Ports ahead on 37 minutes after keeper Ikstens failed to hold a Wesley Boyle shot.

Portadown's Chris Ramsey was sent off after getting a second booking three minutes from time at Shamrock Park.

The Ports still looked set to win but Juris Laizans levelled in injury-time.

Skonto's equaliser prevented the Ports from recording their first win in Europe since 1974.

The Ports battled superbly against the full-time Latvian side.

Goalkeeper Neil Armstrong made a series of superb second-half saves to keep the Ports in the lead.

However, Armstrong was finally beaten in the dying seconds of the game as Laizans levelled from a free-kick from just outside the box.

Portadown: Armstrong, Redman, O'Hara, Ramsey, Kelly, Boyle, Clarke, Mouncey, Alan Teggart, Lecky, McCafferty. Subs: Mackle, Baker, Haire, Paget, McCullough.

Skonto FC: Ikstens, Rode, Dubra, Smirnovs, Laizans, Maksimenko, Fertovs, Tarasovs, Sinelnikovs, Nathan Junior, Karasausks. Subs: Malins, Astafjevs, Petersons, Turkovs, Sevelovs, Petrenko.

Referee: Domagoj Vuckov (Croatia)

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