MX23RW : Thursday, April 18 07:45:58| >> :600:1860504:1860504:
[monks data]
Wales national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Mar 28, 2023 at 7.45pm UK
Millennium Stadium
Latvia national football team

Wales
1 - 0
Latvia

Moore (41')
Wilson (35')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Sorokins (44'), Cernomordijs (58'), Zjuzins (62')

Wales edge out Latvia to boost Euro 2024 hopes

Wales edge out Latvia to boost Euro 2024 hopes
© Reuters
Wales record a 1-0 victory over Latvia to extend their unbeaten start to Euro 2024 qualifying.

Wales have recorded a 1-0 victory over Latvia in Cardiff to extend their unbeaten start to Euro 2024 qualifying.

Rob Page's side secured an unlikely draw versus Group D favourites Croatia on Saturday, yet there was as much pressure to see off the minnows of the group.

Although they had the better of the game, it took a first-half header from Kieffer Moore to ensure that Wales made it four points from a possible six from their opening double-header.

Having struggled to create chances in Split at the weekend, Wales probably should have taken the lead during the early stages, but Harry Wilson was unable to convert at the back post having been found by Dan James.

Despite dominating the first quarter, Wales almost allowed Latvia to go in front through Marcis Oss, who brought a brilliant save out of Danny Ward after meeting a corner.

Latvia, who pushed Republic of Ireland all the way in a friendly last Wednesday, again went close through Vladislavs Gutkovskis, forcing Ward to react sharply to make a low stop.

However, four minutes before half time, the Dragons found a way to get their noses in front. James found Moore at the back post, giving the target man a chance to use his height to his advantage, and the Bournemouth man was able to power a header inside the near post from 12 yards.

With the momentum in their favour, Wales pushed for a second before the break, only for Wilson to be denied by Pavels Steinbors who tipped his effort wide of the target.

Steinbors was at it again after the restart, somehow preventing Neco Williams from finding the top corner, but Gutkovskis reminded Wales that the game was not over with Ward called upon to make another timely intervention just before the hour mark.

As expected, Wales began to sit deeper, and it only encouraged Latvia to keep their hosts under pressure, yet their best chance of an equaliser came when Renars Varslavans blazed an effort off target from the edge of the area when having time and space.

Wales came through some nervy moments during the closing stages to claim their first win since the retirement of Gareth Bale, sitting second in the group behind Croatia on goal difference after the World Cup third-placed team defeated Turkey on away territory.

ID:510073:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4564:No Data Analysis info
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Wales
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Draw
10.9%
Latvia
14.1%
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

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Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

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Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

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Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

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Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

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Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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