Euro 2016

[monks data]

European Championship | Qualifiers

Sep 3, 2015 at 7.45pm UK

Turkey
1-1
Latvia Latvia

İnan (77')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Sabala (91')

Match Report

Football

Last-gasp Latvia deny Turkey victory

By Tom Nightingale, Reporter | 03 September 2015

An injury-time equaliser from Valerijs Sabala against the run of play secures a point for Latvia against a dominant Turkey in Euro 2016 qualifying Group B.

Latvia have struck in injury time to deny a dominant Turkey victory and secure a 1-1 draw in the sides' Euro 2016 Group A qualifier.

Goalkeeper Andris Vanins had to be alert to prevent the home side from taking the lead twice inside the first five minutes, first by palming Arda Turan's fierce effort wide and then to deny Volkan Sen after the winger had beaten two defenders.

Those early exchanges set the tone for the match as Turkey dominated the chances, and the home side should have led when Burak Yilmaz headed wide from close range after Vanins had again denied Sen.

As Turkey's shot count grew, Latvia continued to hold firm with Vanins making further saves from Gokhan Tore, Ozan Tufan, and Caner Erkin, but the visitors could have snatched a shock lead when Arturs Karasausks's chip was cleared off the line by Hakan Balta.

With 13 minutes to play the hosts took the lead when Galatasaray midfielder Selcuk Inan fired a dipping shot past Vanins from 20 yards.

There was a twist in the tale in injury time, however, as Valerijs Sabal scored almost an exact replica of Inan's opener to deny Turkey victory.