National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Kjetil Wirths started the match with the kick off. 6 minutes into the match, Germany's goal looked a bit too open when Dainis Limezs came free, but Peter Freeh reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Latvia's Ivo Rusmanis got a free kick in the 7th minute. Miķelis Somass showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Kjetil Wirths in the 9th minute of the match. Miķelis Somass took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lothar Demski, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Germany were awarded a corner in the 14th minute after Latvia's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Atilla Türkoğlu took the corner. Heintje Rechmann made a great header on Germany's corner, it was just that Latvia's Miķelis Somass managed to reach the ball for a save. Latvia's Miķelis Somass proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 17th minute of the match, managed to save Latvia from getting a goal against them. After having played for 19 minutes, Heintje Rechmann managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Germany's supporters crossed their fingers, but Heintje Rechmann was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Kjetil Wirths in the 21st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Miķelis Somass saved Latvia from getting behind. Germany's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Atilla Türkoğlu in the 22nd minute. Sandor Klingler could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 24th minute of the match, but Miķelis Somass made a huge save. Germany's Kjetil Wirths was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 24th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. Miķelis Somass made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lothar Demski in the 28th minute. Miķelis Somass made an important save on a dangerous shot by Niklas Therre in the 31st minute. In the 38th match minute, Germany was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jordan Hugo to maneuver through the defense. Aivars Rudzis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 41st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Peter Freeh having to interfere. Latvia's Miķelis Somass proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 43rd minute of the match, managed to save Latvia from getting a goal against them. Heintje Rechmann could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 45th minute of the match, but Miķelis Somass made a huge save. In the 45th match minute, Latvia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dainis Limezs to maneuver through the defense. Miķelis Somass took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kjetil Wirths, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Aleksandrs Kurbads made a kick off. Germany's Peter Freeh proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 51st minute of the match, managed to save Germany from getting a goal against them. 53 minutes into the match, Latvia's goal looked a bit too open when Niklas Therre came free, but Miķelis Somass reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience was convinced that Kjetil Wirths's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Miķelis Somass was relentless in the 59th minute of the game. Valentīns Rumanis recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 64th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 67thth minute of the game Lothar Demski who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Latvia's Miķelis Somass was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Germany's Erasmus Woyke was substituted for Sandor Klingler. Latvia's Igors Rupnieks was substituted for Anšlavs Lastovskis. Atilla Türkoğlu made a great header on Germany's corner, it was just that Latvia's Miķelis Somass managed to reach the ball for a save. Germany made a substitution. Dietrich Staffelt replaced Arjen Kaessmann. Germany were awarded a corner in the 73th minute after Latvia's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Atilla Türkoğlu took the corner. A nice corner shot did that Atilla Türkoğlu got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Miķelis Somass quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. 75 minutes into the match, Latvia's goal looked a bit too open when Niklas Therre came free, but Miķelis Somass reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Latvia's Oto Rožukalns was substituted for Aleksandrs Kurbads. Latvia's Miķelis Somass played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Winfried Friess in the 80th minute of play. Peter Freeh stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Oto Rožukalns's shot from short distance in the 81st minute. After some careless play in the Latvia defense, Winfried Friess kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Miķelis Somass. The Latvia fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Miķelis Somass should have stopped the shot. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Kjetil Wirths in the 87th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Miķelis Somass saved Latvia from getting behind. Miķelis Somass showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kjetil Wirths, who was totally free with the ball in the 88th minute. With an all-out effort, Latvia's Peter Freeh threw himself towards the right post 93 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Oto Rožukalns, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. When the referee blew the final whistle, Germany could leave the field as winners, despite Latvia having more of the ball for most of the match.