- Andrew Dempsey
- Tue, Sep 10 2024
Andrew Dempsey reports from Tallaght Stadium
Ireland’s Under-21s blew a great opportunity to all but seal a play-off for next summer’s European finals with a costly 2-2 draw against Latvia at Tallaght Stadium.
The Boys in Green can still top Group A but must defeat Norway at home and Italy away in their last two games to do so.
Jim Crawford’s troops are currently four points behind the Azzurri with a game in hand. But there will be questions to answer after drawing to fifth-seeds Latvia - as they sit two points clear of third-placed Norway.
Ireland thought they were on course to claim a comfortable win when striker Sinclair Armstrong opened the scoring in the 16th minute.
However, they were caught napping twice either side of half-time when goals from Kaspars Anmanis and Ivans Patrikejevs put Latvia ahead.
Full-back Sean Roughan levelled in the second half to salvage a point but the Boys in Green will rue several missed opportunities throughout the 90 minutes to come out on top.
Crawford’s side - who defeated Turkey on Friday night - were quickest out of the traps and took a deserved lead after a quarter of an hour through Armstrong.
Latvia initially failed to clear a Rocco Vata hack upfield with former Shamrock Rovers striker Armstrong muscling in to shoot.
The striker, however, was initially denied by Latvia keeper Janis Beks with the rebound falling kindly to Ollie O’Neill - who was also thwarted.
The ball eventually found its way back to Armstrong who slammed home on the line to open the scoring.
Ireland had further chances to double their lead through Vata - who hit the post from distance and also dragged a shot just wide - and Armstrong.
Despite the hosts’ dominance, Latvia equalised before the break through Anmanis.
The midfielder ghosted into the box and was found by left-back Ralfs Maslovs’ unchallenged cross to fire past Josh Keeley in the Ireland goal.
Maslovs, however, almost went from hero to zero for the visitors minutes after the restart when he wildly took down Sam Curtis in the box - only for referee Stefan Ebner to wave away the penalty claims for Ireland.
And while Keeley could do little about Latvia’s opener, he will likely have nightmares about his error which handed the visitors a shock lead in the 63rd minute.
The former St Patrick’s Athletic prospect - who is currently on the books of Premier League Tottenham Hotspur and on loan at Leyton Orient - inexplicably dropped Roberts Melkis’ cross and substitute Patrikejevs headed in from close range to punish the hosts.
But Ireland were level again 90 seconds later when Roughan smashed home an equaliser after some good play from Andrew Moran and Vata.
That goal instigated a hectic finale as the Boys in Green chased a winner.
It led to frustrations reaching boiling point as well, with Armstrong receiving a yellow card late on - which will see him suspended for Ireland's vital clash against Norway at Turner's Cross next month.
And while Anselmo Garcia MacNulty, Aidomo Emakhu and Johnny Kenny all went close - Ireland could not find the elusive winner and were denied what would have been a valuable three points.
It means they will likely need to beat Norway in Cork next month to ensure a play-off for next summer’s European Under-21 finals in Slovakia.
Republic of Ireland:Josh Keeley; Sam Curtis, James Abankwah, Anselmo Garcia MacNulty, Seán Roughan; Rocco Vata (Armstrong Oko-Flex, 79’), Joe Hodge, Matt Healy; Ollie O’Neill (Aidomo Emakhu, 64’), Sinclair Armstrong (Johnny Kenny, 79’), Andrew Moran
Subs not used:Tiernan Brooks, Connor O’Riordan, Mark O’Mahony, James Furlong, Killian Phillips, Baba Adeeko.
Booked: Sam Curtis (28), Sinclair Armstrong (73).
Latvia: Janis Beks; Olgerts Rascevskis (Davids Druzinins, 58’), Oskars Vientiess, Rudolfs Reingolcs, Ralfs Maslovs; Kristians Kauselis (Kritstofers Rekis, 67’), Kaspars Anmanis, Kristers Penkevics, Roberts Melkis; Glebs Patika, Bruno Melnis (Ivans Patrikejevs, 45’)
Subs not used:Raivo Sturins, Sergejs Vilkovs, Valters Purs, Markuss Kruglauzs, Glebs Mihalcovs, Kristaps Grabovskis.
Booked: Bruno Melnis (30), Ralfs Maslovs (48), Glebs Patika (48), Kaspars Anmanis (76), Oskars Vientiess (80), Rudolfs Reingolcs (84).
Referee: Stefan Ebner (Austria)
Attendance:953.
extratime.com Player of the Match: Rocco Vata (Republic of Ireland).
