European Championship
Sep 3, 2015 7.45pm
1
1
HT : 0 0
FT
  • Ozan Tufan 32' yellowcard
  • Selcuk İnan 77' goal
  • yellowcard Igors Tarasovs 9'
  • yellowcard Andris Vanins 34'
  • goal Valerijs Sabala 91'
  • yellowcard Valerijs Sabala 91'
  • yellowcard Eduards Visnakovs 92'

Last-gasp Latvia deny Turkey victory

Last-gasp Latvia deny Turkey victory

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.

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