National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725,
Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Latvia's Aivars Rudzis started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. 4 minutes into the match, Latvia's goal looked a bit too open when Častislav Intihar came free, but Oļģerts Volbergs reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Častislav Intihar came up free with the goalie in the 5th minute, the Slovenia fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Častislav Intihar couldn't finish the play. Julien Malenšek made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Aivars Rudzis in the 8th minute of play. Spodris Laskēvics hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. Oļģerts Volbergs showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Častislav Intihar in the 15th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Aivars Rudzis in the 17th minute of play forced Slovenia's goalkeeper Julien Malenšek to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After having played for 19 minutes, Aivars Rudzis managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Latvia's supporters crossed their fingers, but Aivars Rudzis was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Častislav Intihar fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 22nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Oļģerts Volbergs having to interfere. Julien Malenšek took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Henrihs Bludēns, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Oļģerts Volbergs made a fantastic save in the 27th minute, when Nick Žuraj sent off a good shot on target. Julien Malenšek took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Aivars Rudzis, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 30th minute Častislav Intihar shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Oļģerts Volbergs saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 31 minutes of play, Latvia's Aivars Rudzis made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Julien Malenšek was left in no man's land by his defense there! Častislav Intihar might have been able to make a better finish in the 34th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Oļģerts Volbergs. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Častislav Intihar ran back to his position shaking his head. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Aivars Rudzis in the 35th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Julien Malenšek saved Slovenia from getting behind. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Aivars Rudzis in the 38th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Julien Malenšek prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 40 minutes had been played when some careless play by Slovenia's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Valentīns Rumanis was slow to take the kick. During this time Latvia's players had a chance to rest. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 40th minute of the game. One of Slovenia:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Latvia:s goal. Julien Malenšek had in the 41stth minute some difficulties stopping Aivars Rudzis's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. After some careless play in the Slovenia defense, Aivars Rudzis kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Julien Malenšek. The Slovenia fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Julien Malenšek should have stopped the shot. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-3 lead.
The wind increased when Nick Žuraj made the kick off in the second half. Julien Malenšek made a fantastic save in the 52nd minute, when Aivars Rudzis sent off a good shot on target. In the 57th minute Nick Žuraj shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Oļģerts Volbergs saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience was convinced that Aivars Rudzis's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julien Malenšek was relentless in the 62nd minute of the game. In the 73rd minute Aivars Rudzis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Julien Malenšek saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 74th match minute, Latvia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Spodris Laskēvics to maneuver through the defense. Latvia's Helvijs Birmans was substituted for Arvils Kivliņš. Latvia's Gastons Elksnavnieks was substituted for Valentīns Rumanis. Aivars Rudzis spun around in front of the goal 80 minutes in the game, and got away a shot that, to his disappointment, went to the left of Slovenia's goal. Slovenia made a substitution. Kazimir Lukanc replaced Nick Žuraj. Aivars Rudziss short, quick shot in the 83rdth minute got Julien Malenšek to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. An unexpectedly hard shot by Aivars Rudzis in the 93rd minute of play forced Slovenia's goalkeeper Julien Malenšek to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 94th minute Kazimir Lukanc shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Oļģerts Volbergs saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The Slovenia supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Latvia's performance. The match ended with a win for Latvia.
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