In a nail-biting UEFA European Under-21 qualifier in Group A, Ireland and Latvia evenly split four goals, concluding the match in a 2-2 draw at Tallaght Stadium on a Tuesday evening. It was indeed a bumpy journey for the Republic of Ireland who, despite securing goals from Sinclair Armstrong and Sean Roughan, ended up relinquishing their lead over Latvia twice.
The Irish squad, led by Jim Crawford, stated their intent early, with Armstrong stamping his authority on the game with a close-range shot that found the back of the net 16 minutes into the game, thanks to a helping hand from an initially blocked shot by Latvia’s goalie, Janis Beks. Despite Rocco Vata’s second Irish goal attempt being thwarted by the crossbar in the 37th minute, Latvia levelled the game shortly before halftime, courtesy of a firm strike from Kaspars Anmanis that swept past Irish keeper, Josh Keeley.
In the 63rd minute, Latvia took full advantage of a fumbled effort by Keeley to collect a Roberts Melkis cross, thereby enabling substitute Ivans Patrikejevs to neatly head the ball into the net and push Latvia into the lead. Despite this disappointment, Crawford’s crew rallied back within minutes, thanks to Andrew Moran’s sleek pass to Sean Roughan who, from a left-sided angle, clinically struck past Beks.
The Irishmen aimed to reignite their momentum, however, a victory slipped through their grasp. The second-placed Irish squad now leads Norway by just two points, injuring their momentum as they face off at Turner’s Cross on October 11th. The Irish squad included Keeley, Curtis, Abankwah, Garcia MacNulty, Roughan, Vata (substituted for Oko-Flex at 79 minutes), Hodge, Healy, O’Neill ( who was replaced by Emakhu at 64 minutes), Armstrong (who was substituted for Kenny at 79 minutes), and Moran.
Referee S Ebner from Austria was officiating the match which had the Latvian team line-up as follows: Beks was in charge of the gloves; the defenders were Rascevskis (who was substituted by Druzinins after 57 minutes), Vientiess, Reingolcs and Maslovs. The midfield saw Kauselis (who made way for Rekis on the 67th-minute), Anmanis, Penkevics and Melkis, while Patika and Melnis (Patrikejevs came in for him post the break at 46 minutes) led the attack upfront.