Pafos FC suffers narrow defeat to RB Salzburg in Europa League third qualifying round

Pafos FC faced RB Salzburg in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round at the Red Bull Arena in Austria on August 6, 2026. The match was significantly disrupted by heavy rainfall, resulting in a two-hour delay during the first half after only fifteen minutes of play. Despite a resilient performance by the Cypriot side in the second half, during which Vlad Dragomir and Lele missed key scoring opportunities, the Austrian hosts secured a 1-0 victory with a goal from Tabakovic in the 88th minute.

Following the defeat, Pafos FC faces a difficult task in the return leg scheduled for August 13, 2026, at the Alphamega Stadium in Limassol. The team's challenges are compounded by disciplinary issues, as substitute Sema was sent off in stoppage time (90+3′), and Kina suffered an injury during the first half. Manager Ricardo Sa Pinto, who recently bolstered his squad by registering Momi Ngamaleu for European competitions, now prepares his team to overturn the narrow deficit to keep their tournament hopes alive.