Kazakhstan end Euro 2016 qualifying campaign on high note with Latvia win

Kazakhstan have ended their Euro 2016 campaign with their first win of qualifying courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Lativa this evening.

Arturs Zjuzins had an opportunity to fire the home side ahead in the 12th minute as he collected the ball on the edge of the box, but he sent his effort past the post.

Kazakhstan responded with a threat through the middle when Gafurzhan Suyumbayev was afforded time and space to drill a strike towards goal, but Andris Vanins made a solid stop.

Vanins kept the scores level after he made another impressive save, this time to deny Islambek Kuat as he rifled an effort from close range towards the net.

Sergey Khizhnichenko was the next Kazakhstan player to be denied by Vanins as he made a block with his body to close down the angle following a right-footed strike from the midfielder.

The visitors got their breakthrough in the second half when Kuat received the ball in the box and he rifled a left-footed strike beyond the reach of Vanins into the bottom corner.

Vanins kept Latvia in the game as he made further saves to deny Ulan Konysbayev and Tanat Nuserbayev to give his teammates hope of a late comeback.

However, the home side could not find the net to notch a leveller as their closest effort came from Vladislavs Gabovs, who sent his long-range effort over the bar as they succumbed to defeat.