RIGA — Latvia’s World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign came to an end on Wednesday, even though they beat Moldova 3-2.
Latvia knew going into the game that a big victory at the least was required for them to advance, along with other scenarios which were out of their hands. Unfortunately, Latvia’s fate was sealed regardless of their own result when Greece (playing at the same time) beat Luxembourg as expected 2-1 and Switzerland held Israel to a 0-0 draw.
If anyone was in doubt that winter is upon us in the Baltics, they only had to join the 3,500 hearty fans at Skonto Stadium for proof that the worst part of the year is indeed on our doorstep. The players fought of near freezing conditions that combined with a driving drizzle to make for miserable playing conditions.
Understandably both teams started slowly as they attempted to adjust to the conditions but it was Moldova that was making the most of their early limited opportunities. Their persistence was rewarded in the 25th minute when Gheorghi Ovseannicov worked his way into the box before beating goalkeeper Andris Vaņins to give the visitors the early advantage.
As the thirty minute mark approached Latvia had only had one genuine goal scoring chance in the first half hour when a foul on Māris Verpakovskis in the 11th minute resulted in a free shot for Latvia from just outside the box. Moldovan goalie Stanislav Namaşco bunted off the free shot and Latvia were unable to make anything from the deflection.
When Latvia next had a genuine chance, it was again a free shot from an almost identical position to the first. Again it had been Verpakovskis who had drawn the foul, which this time resulted in a red card for Moldova’s captain, Serghei Laşcencov.
This time they made no mistake from the free shot with a perfectly worked set move seeing Vladimir Koļesņičenko fake the free kick shot, instead leaving the ball for Andrei Rubins whose ground shot only picked up the slightest deflection from the defensive wall as it found its way in the back of the net.
With scores level once again and playing with an extra man, Latvia began to look lively, creating a number of attacking opportunities before half-time. They looked particularly strong down the right flank where Aleksandrs Cauņa and Koļesņičenko were working well together, providing good ball for Verpakovskis.
Their renewed liveliness on attack paid off when Verpakovkis passed the ball across the box in what many construed to be a mistimed effort to find Rubins unmarked. Rubins was not about to let the golden opportunity pass, beating Namaşco to put Latvia 2-1 up in the 44th minute.
Moldova came out fighting in the second but were paying for having to play a man down. A mad scramble in front of the Latvian goal mouth in the 48th minute had the Moldovans appealing for the equalizer but the officials were unconvinced, handing the advantage back over to Latvia.
The home-side came close on a number of occasions in the second-half, but could only make good of their opportunities on one occasion in the 76th minute. This time it was two of the second-half substitutes combining when Genādijs Soloņicins cross found the boot of Kristaps Grebis who added his side’s third.
With the game all but over Moldova managed to add one final goal to their campaign’s tally when substitute Sofroni Veaceslav scored his team’s second in the 89th minute. Moldova began to push hard for the equalizer but with only a couple of minutes of extra time added, the turned out to be their biggest enemy.
For Latvia it was not to be the miracle they had been dreaming off as news came through that Luxembourg were unable to assist their cause, going down 0-2 to Turkey. Only winning by one goal was never going to be enough for the Latvians.
Latvia will take a lot of heart from the campaign, particularly their away win over Israel and their draw at home with Switzerland. For now however, they will be left wondering what could have been, particularly if they could have held onto their half-time lead in Greece on Saturday.
