National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725,
Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Māris Blūms made the kick off which started today's match. Dravis Pāvuliņš came out of the goal in the 5th minute to try and stop a shot by U21 Scotland's Evan McCowan. But to his dismay, Evan McCowan quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. The audience thought a goal was coming when Vincent Gibson got free with Dravis Pāvuliņš in the 11th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. U21 Scotland's Gregor Durrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Edvards Skaris in the 13th minute of play. U21 Latvia's Dravis Pāvuliņš proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 15th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Latvia from getting a goal against them. Gregor Durrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Māris Blūms, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 20 minutes had been played when some careless play by U21 Scotland's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Aleksandrs Bulciņš was slow to take the kick. During this time U21 Latvia's players had a chance to rest. The corner led U21 Latvia's Aleksandrs Bulciņš to fire away a dangerous shot which Gregor Durrant despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 22nd minute Edvards Skaris shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gregor Durrant saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dravis Pāvuliņš made a fantastic save in the 27th minute, when Evan McCowan sent off a good shot on target. Dravis Pāvuliņš made an important save on a dangerous shot by Evan McCowan in the 29th minute. Dravis Pāvuliņš made an important save on a dangerous shot by Evan McCowan in the 30th minute. 33 minutes into the match, U21 Latvia's Arvils Kajūns sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Gregor Durrant narrowly saved just below the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Arvils Kajūns in the 35th minute of play forced U21 Scotland's goalkeeper Gregor Durrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. U21 Latvia's Māris Blūms was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Gregor Durrant in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. After 38 played minutes U21 Scotland got a freekick which was hit by Evan McCowan. Gregor Durrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Edvards Skaris, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 39 minutes, Māris Blūms made it 1-1 with a short kick to the right side. U21 Scotland's Gregor Durrant tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 43rd minute Brian MacDonald shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dravis Pāvuliņš saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Gregor Durrant came out of the goal in the 44th minute to try and stop a shot by U21 Latvia's Arvils Kajūns. But to his dismay, Arvils Kajūns quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-2. The U21 Scotland players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. U21 Latvia were winning 1-2.
The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Evan McCowan stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After 52 minutes of play, U21 Scotland's Vincent Gibson made it 2-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Dravis Pāvuliņš was left in no man's land by his defense there! An unexpectedly hard shot by Evan McCowan in the 54th minute of play forced U21 Latvia's goalkeeper Dravis Pāvuliņš to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 55th minute, Aleksandrs Bulciņš hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 61st minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Latvia's goalkeeper Dravis Pāvuliņš, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Ron Dougan hit a great freekick 62 minutes into the match. U21 Scotland made a substitution. Jason Doles replaced Vincent Gibson. The supporters of U21 Latvia booed when U21 Scotland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 66 match minutes in a wonderful position. Evan McCowan didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 68th minute Evan McCowan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dravis Pāvuliņš saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. U21 Latvia were furious when Stefans Ragaviņš was red carded, 72 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. After a rather tough play, U21 Latvia's Stefans Ragaviņš got a free kick in the 73rd minute. In the 77th minute, Brian MacDonald made a precise shot to the right of Dravis Pāvuliņš. U21 Latvia's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-2. 81 minutes into the match, U21 Scotland's goal looked a bit too open when Edvards Skaris came free, but Gregor Durrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 86th play minute Persijs Kaktiņš came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Gregor Durrant. 3-3. In the 92nd minute, Persijs Kaktiņš ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Gregor Durrant was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-4. The U21 Latvia supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing U21 Latvia would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.
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