National Stadium
Spectators: 1028 (Terracing: 772,
Seating: 236, VIP seats: 20) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Vance Pennant started the match with the kick off. In the 13th minute U21 Latvia were awarded a corner. Gundars Konters went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led to U21 Latvia's Ingvars Kuckaitis getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. Jurģis Lielgalviss short, quick shot in the 17thth minute got Dominic Spencer to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. When U21 Latvia's Jurģis Lielgalvis in the 17th minute got a chance for a shot 17th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Northern Ireland's goalie prevented a goal. A collision led to U21 Northern Ireland getting a freekick after 21 minutes play. Matty Murray hit a great ball. In the 23rd minute Rūsiņs Rozenbaum shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dominic Spencer saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 25 minutes, John Kerr managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 Northern Ireland's supporters crossed their fingers, but John Kerr was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 27th minute, Rūsiņs Rozenbaum got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. 29 minutes into the game, U21 Latvia's Jurģis Lielgalvis nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Dominic Spencer made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. Matty Murray fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 31st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Intars Baums having to interfere. The supporters of U21 Latvia booed when U21 Northern Ireland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Shaun Higgins didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rūsiņs Rozenbaum in the 36th minute of play forced U21 Northern Ireland's goalkeeper Dominic Spencer to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. U21 Latvia were awarded a corner in the 37th minute after U21 Northern Ireland's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gundars Konters took the corner. It was a well-played corner which Ingvars Kuckaitis managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. Laimiņs Bruderis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 43rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dominic Spencer having to interfere. Dominic Spencer made a fantastic save in the 46th minute, when Jurģis Lielgalvis sent off a good shot on target. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.
Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Jurģis Lielgalvis to make the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rūsiņs Rozenbaum in the 52nd minute of play forced U21 Northern Ireland's goalkeeper Dominic Spencer to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Rūsiņs Rozenbaum in the 53rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Dominic Spencer saved U21 Northern Ireland from getting behind. U21 Latvia's Intars Baums proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 54th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Latvia from getting a goal against them. In the 57th match minute, U21 Northern Ireland was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Matty Murray to maneuver through the defense. 58 minutes into the match, U21 Northern Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Jurģis Lielgalvis came free, but Dominic Spencer reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. U21 Northern Ireland's Dominic Spencer played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jurģis Lielgalvis in the 60th minute of play. In the 64th match minute, U21 Northern Ireland was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Shaun Higgins to maneuver through the defense. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Rūsiņs Rozenbaum in the 65th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dominic Spencer prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The audience was convinced that Rūsiņs Rozenbaum's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dominic Spencer was relentless in the 68th minute of the game. A collision led to U21 Latvia getting a freekick after 68 minutes play. Nauris Mugurēvičs hit a great ball. U21 Northern Ireland made a substitution. Ashley Fields replaced James Nicholl. A collision led to U21 Latvia getting a freekick after 70 minutes play. Nauris Mugurēvičs hit a great ball. After a rather tough play, U21 Northern Ireland's Matty Murray got a free kick in the 72nd minute. U21 Latvia made a substitution. Izidors Kulkenieks replaced Rūsiņs Rozenbaum. After a rather tough play, U21 Northern Ireland's Matty Murray got a free kick in the 73rd minute. 78 minutes into the match, U21 Northern Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Benedikts Žurkēvics came free, but Dominic Spencer reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The referee felt a red card was in order, 81 minutes into the game, when Ashley Fields put in a rough tackle. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 81st minute of the game. One of U21 Northern Ireland:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of U21 Latvia:s goal. 3-0 became the score in the 87th minute when Benedikts Žurkēvics elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Benedikts Žurkēvics received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 92nd minute. Dominic Spencer tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The audience was convinced that Benedikts Žurkēvics's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dominic Spencer was relentless in the 94th minute of the game. After a rather tough play, U21 Latvia's Izidors Kulkenieks got a free kick in the 95th minute. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The U21 Latvia fans cheered their team off the field, for while U21 Northern Ireland had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.
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