International Friendlies
N. Ireland
Nov 13, 2015 7.45pm
1
0
HT : 0 0
FT
Latvia
  • Steven Davis 55' goal

Live Commentary: Northern Ireland 1-0 Latvia - as it happened

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Northern Ireland 1-0 Latvia - as it happened
© Getty Images

Steven Davis's second-half strike gave Northern Ireland a 1-0 win over Latvia in an international friendly at Windsor Park this evening.

The hosts dominated proceedings and Kyle Lafferty came close to handing Michael O'Neill's side the lead before the break.

However, Davis fired home from close range 10 minutes into the second half to end a run of 24 friendly matches without a win Northern Ireland.

Relive the action in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute account below.

9.39pmThat's all from me, but make sure you stick around on Sports Mole for plenty of reaction from all of tonight's international matches and some breaking news in athletics. Until next time!

9.38pmThe hosts were by far the better side and in all honesty and should have been two or three goals ahead going into the final few minutes, but they'll take the win as they go from strength to strength!

9.37pmSteven Davis' goal was enough to end Northern Ireland's international friendly hoodoo, ending a 24-game and seven-year winless run in non-compeititve games!

9.36pmFULL TIME: Northern Ireland 1-0 Latvia

90+3 minLatvia launch a free kick into the Northern Ireland area but Ferguson hosts slice the ball to safety. Can they hold on?

90+2 minBaird has gone tumbling after an innocuous-looking challenge. Worrying signs for Northern Ireland and Derby County.

90+1 minUPDATE: The Republic of Ireland couldn't hold onto their lead for long as Edin Dzeko has equalised for Bosnia. It's 1-1 now.

90 minTHREE MINUTES OF ADDED TIME TO BE PLAYED

89 minHere's Davis celebrating the only goal of the game so far. It looks as though it's going to be the winner!
© Getty Images

88 minCLOSE! Rudnevs is presented with Latvia's biggest chance of the night by some distance. He swivels and hits Gabovs' cross towards goal, but it curls away from the top corner at the last second.

87 minUPDATE: A BIG, BIG goal in Bosnia, where Robbie Brady has put the Republic of Ireland 1-0 ahead!

86 minSUBSTITUTION: Rakels, who has been Latvia's brightest attacking player (not a closely-fought contest) is replaced by Kamess

84 minSUBSTITUTION: The best player on the pitch, Davis, leaves to a standing ovation and McCourt takes his place in midfield.

84 minCorry Evans is hauled back as he escapes from Kurakins. It would have been a routine yellow card in a competitive game.

82 minSAVE! Great reflexes from Steinbors to bat away Ferguson's deflected cross!

80 minSUBSTITUTION: Latvia make another alteration as Laizans leaves the field.

79 minFerguson sends a dangerous cross into the box which Gorkss does well to clear.

78 minBoyce wins a strong tackle in the far corner, but the referee thought it was reckless and awards a free kick to Latvia.

77 minSteinboks may be a rookie, but Carroll's a veteran and should do better than flap at a routine Latvia corner. Luckily for the 38-year-old, the ball drops to a Northern Ireland body and the visitors clear.

75 minSUBSTITUTION: Latvia hand a debut to goalkeeper Steinbors, who takes over from Vanins for the final 15 minutes.

74 minUPDATE: England have gone 1-0 down to Spain after a spectacular goal from Mario Gaspar.

72 minSUBSTITUTION: Visnakovs makes way for Labala as Latvia make their second change.

70 minGorkss gets a late shout from Vanins as he leaves Davis' cross at the last second. That could have been calamitous had he got a touch!

69 minSUBSTITUTIONS: The fourth and fifth Northern Ireland changes, as Ward and Dallas make way for Ferguson and Boyce.

68 minDavis beats the turf in anger as he gives the ball away but the hosts hunt in packs to quickly win it back. Good hunger from Northern Ireland.

66 minSHOT! Davis is full of confidence and lets the ball bounce before sending volley goalwards from 25 yards. It's straight at Vanins, but it was dipping and the goalkeeper had to deal with it.

63 minRemember, Northern Ireland haven't won a friendly since 2008. That's SEVEN years! Surely they will end that unwanted run tonight? Another goal will seal it.

59 minSUBSTITUTION: Latvia make their first change, as Hamburg striker Rudnevs enters the fray.

58 minSHOT! Corry Evans slices a shot over the bar from 25 yards. He claims a corner, but the referee says there was no deflection and a goal kick is awarded.

55 minThere we are! Davis comes to the fore to put his side ahead! Cathcart sends a good crossfield ball in behind the Latvia defence and Davis meets it with his head. Vanins keeps out the initial effort but it comes straight back to Davis, who sweeps the ball into an empty net from four yards with his left foot!

55 minGOAL! (Steven Davis) Northern Ireland 1-0 Latvia

53 minSUBSTITUTION: Lafferty was so often the hero in the qualifying stages but he's been wasteful tonight. He's been replaced by Magennis, who is awarded a big cheer by the home supporters.

52 minWard wins a free kick after drawing a foul from Kurakins on the right wing.

50 minLaizans is an excitable character. He fired in a shot from 30 yards in the first half and has a pop from 35 yards now. It's easily charged down by Davis though.

49 minMcLaughlin fires in a wicked cross from the right wing. It's almost undependable and the Latvian defenders are petrified to get a touch on it. It bounces inside the six-yard box, but Lafferty misjudges it and it bobbles over his head.

48 minSAVE! Corry Evans forces Kurakins into a mistake and Lafferty takes on two defenders before firing at Vanins from 15 yards. He was under pressure, but should have done better there.

47 minDallas gets on the end of McAuley's fantastic 60-yard pass, but slips as he sends in a poor cross.

46 minKICKOFF: Here we go then. Will we see a goal in this half? Let's hope so!

8.45pmSUBSTUTIONS: Carroll has replaced McGovern in goal, while Norwood has made way for Corry Evans

8.44pmUPDATE: In the other games this evening, the Republic of Ireland are holding Bosnia at 0-0 after 45 minutes of the first leg in their playoff, while Wales are drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands.

8.36pmUPDATE: We're not the only game without a goal, as England are drawing 0-0 with Spain in Alacante at the interval.

8.34pmAs it is, Latvia will be the happier team, despite being on the back foot for large swathes of the first period.

8.33pmNorthern Ireland have been the better team without doubt, but haven't made the most of their chances. Lafferty is the biggest culprit and really should have found the back of the net after coming up against Vanins one-on-one.

8.31pmHALF TIME: Northern Ireland 0-0 Latvia

44 minsEvans is groggily making his way back onto he pitch after receiving treatment following a clash of heads. He should be OK to continue.

43 minCHANCE! Norwood waves his players forward before chipping in a poor cross. However, the ball breaks to Evans at the far post, who reacts well but flashes a header wide of the upright.

42 minA chance for the hosts to test Vanins as Gabovs needlessly shoves Lafferty in the back 25 yards from goal. Will they get an opener here?

40 minDavis fires a loose pass to the left of Evans, who stretches to get a foot to the ball and divert it Cathcart. Visnaovs was lurking and it was a vital touch by Evans to spare the blushes of his captain!

38 minDallas replicates his third-minute shot, but it's the same result as his effort flies high over the bar from range.

37 minRakels swerves his way past two weak tackles and space opens up for him inside the area but McAuley and Evans are alert to the danger and block the winger's shot.

34 minEvans makes a superb last-ditch tackle and gets clattered on the head in the process. He's back on his feet now though and the crowd are chanting his name.

33 minSHOT! This chance is even better! Lafferty runs clear of the Latvia defence after latching onto Davis' pass. He has two options: shoot or square for Ward. He opts for the former and rolls the ball wide of the far post. Ward is furious, and rightly so.

32 minSAVE! The best chance of the half and it's wonderfully worked. Norwood releases Dallas down the left wing, who cuts it back into the path of the onrushing Davis, who sends a shot towards the far corner, but Vanins dives to his right to gather.

29 minSHOT! The corner is cleared, but Laizans fires the follow-up shot towards goal from 30 yards. It's straight at McGovern, but it takes a nasty turn off the muddy goalmouth and it bounces off the goalkeeper's chest. Luckily for him, there were no Latvian players following up. It was Latvia's first effort, but they almost got fortunate!

28 minLatvia win their first corner of the game as Visnakov's scuffed cross is deflected behind.

26 minWard has looked lively, but he's playing a little too deep. The idea behind this formation is to get two men upfront, but Lafferty is beginning to look isolated as his strike partner drops deeper and deeper in search of the ball.

24 minGorkss is forced into an interception at full stretch as McLaughlin's cross is cut out with Ward lurking.

23 minThe game's hit a bit of a lull. Norn Iron need a goal to rev themselves up.

21 minWard looks full of confidence and he attempts a cheeky effort with a first-time 30-yard half-volley. It sails harmlessly wide, but it was worth a go as Vanins was off his line!

20 minDallas skips inside one challenge but is crowded out by two more Latvia shirts. Then Norwood sends a shot towards goal, but it's weak and Vanins gathers with ease.

19 minLatvia have just begun to stem the content flow of Norn Iron attacks. They're taking an age with every throw-in, free kick and goal kick they have too. Surely they're not winding down the clock already?

18 minNorthern Ireland are playing in their new home kit tonight. It's drawn a fair amount of criticism, but I quite like it! What do you think?

16 minMcLaughlin ghosts in at the far post, but Norwood's cross is marginally too strong and the ball sails out for a goal kick.

15 minLafferty chases a long ball and just loses out to Vanins, who had come a long way and had to win the ball.

14 minSAVE! Baird swings a pass out to Ward on the left-hand side of the penalty area. The forward controls the ball on his chest, allows the ball to bounce once and fires a left-footed volley towards goal from a tight angle. Vainness can only push the ball back into the middle of the penalty area again, but Latvia are able to clear.

14 minLatvia's first real attacking threat comes from Visnakovs on the left wing, but although he skips by two players, he's halted by McAuley.

13 minDallas charges in to block Gabovs' pass down the line, which draws a big cheer from the home crowd.

12 minLafferty's penalised for a foul on Kurakins in the far corner. He ran across the back of the left-back and clipped his heels. Accidental, but definitely a foul.

10 minCLOSE! Jagodinskis breathes a massive sigh of relief as his sliced clearance from McLaughlin's cross falls into the hands of his goalkeeper. That was so nearly a calamitous own goal!

8 minDavis is at the centre of everything positive for the hosts as he slips the ball between two defenders for Ward, but the forward's low cross is cut out.

7 minSAVE! Ward fires a stinging shot towards goal from 20 yards, which Vanins spills into the thick of the penalty area. It's hacked away for another corner.

7 minAn example of Davis being allowed to roam as he reaches the byline on the right wing, but his deep cross is cleared for a corner.

6 minBut it's a poor delivery and Latvia clear. Northern Ireland come again though and the hosts have almost exclusively had the ball in the opening few minutes.

5 minDallas goes down after a collision with Rakels, but the left wing-back is back on his feet. Norwood stands over the free kick on the left touchline about 45 yards from goal.

5 minNorthern Ireland certainly are in a 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 formation, with McLaughlin on the right flank and Dallas on the left. Baird has taken up a deep-lying central midfield position, which will allow Davis and Norwood to bomb on.

3 minSHOT! Latvia fail to clear a cross and it falls to Dallas on the left-hand side just outside the penalty area, but the left wing-back fires his shot high and wide from 20 yards.

2 minWard picks up the ball with a chance to run at the Latvia back four, but slips and concedes possession.

1 minKICKOFF: We're off! Northern Ireland get proceedings underway at Windsor Park, kicking from left to right in their new kit.

7.43pmThe national anthems have been sung, the jackets are off and kickoff is moments away! That means there is just time for me to make a prediction and I'm going to plump for a 3-0 win for the hosts.

7.41pmAway from Belfast, there are a host of international games involving the home nations. The most crucial is the Republic of Ireland's first-leg playoff with Bosnia, which can be followed here. England are away at the European Championship holders Spain, while Wales play hosts to the Netherlands. Sports Mole has live coverage of all three games here, but why would you want to go elsewhere?!

7.38pmHowever, they remain without an international friendly win since... 2008! That win came at home to Georgia as they ran out 4-1 victors. Surely they'll end that dismal run tonight?

7.37pmThe hosts are in dreamland at the moment, as they've qualified for their first tournament in 30 years - Pat Jennings was playing when they turned out in Mexico for the 1986 World Cup! They have done so in remarkable fashion too, becoming the first ever pot-five team to win a European Championships qualifying group.

7.34pmWindsor Park is filling up ahead of kickoff!

7.30pmThree changes made by Michael O'Neill from the side that drew 1-1 in Finland last time out. Jonny Evans is restored to the defence after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury, while Conor McLaughlin and Jamie Ward also return. It seems as though O'Neill has opted for a 5-3-2 formation this evening, but we shall see whether that's the case come 7.45pm.

7.27pmLATVIA SUBS: Steinbors, Kamess, Sabala, Rudnevs, Ikaunieks

7.25pmNORTHERN IRELAND SUBS: Carroll, Mannus, Ferguson, McGinn, McKay, Boyce, C Evans, McCourt, Hodson, Magennis

7.23pmLATVIA STARTING XI: Vanins; Gorkss, Jagodinskis, Gabovs, Kurakins; Zjuzins, Tarasovs, Laizans; Visnakovs, Rakels, Visnakovs

7.20pmNORTHERN IRELAND STARTING XI: McGovern; J Evans, Cathcart, McAuley; C McLaughlin, Davis, Baird, Norwood, Dallas; Lafferty, Ward

7.18pmBefore we relive the glory of Norn Iron's qualification, let's take a glance at the team news...

7.17pmHello! Thanks for coming along on this cold November night to join me for Northern Ireland's game at home to Latvia. There's sure to be a carnival atmosphere inside Windsor Park after the home side qualified for Euro 2016 last month!
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