RIGA — FK Ventspils dreams of becoming the first Latvian team to qualify for the UEFA Champions League seem all but gone after going down 0-3 to FC Zürich in the first leg of the final qualifying round.

Ventspils got very close to qualifying for the Champions League based on an almost impenetrable defense when playing at home this season, but when it mattered the most, their biggest strength was found wanting. Zürich made the most of every opportunity they had and only twelve minutes in they were already on the back foot after Johan Vonlanthen scored from the corner of the area.

After the early goal Ventspils went hard on the attack, controlling the majority of the play. However, whatever strong opportunities they did have to equalize Ventspils squandered with a number of shots on goal coming agonizingly close without penetrating the posts.

In the second-half Ventspils continued to apply most of the pressure, but it was Zürich who were making the most of their limited opportunities with Silvan Aegerter finding the back of the net in the 55th minute to extend Zürich’s lead. Then Dusan Djuric put the final nail in the coffin in the 75th minute after he pounced on a mistake by Ventspils keeper Andrejs Pavlovs.

Zürich will be feeling relatively comfortable when they host the return leg Aug. 25 with Ventspils facing the enormous task of scoring three away goals just to see the game go to a penalty shoot-out.

Zürich 3 (Vonlanthen 12′, Aegerter 55′, Djuric 75′), Ventspils 0