Ireland clear the danger through Collins and the referee blows for full time.
FULL-TIME: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 3-2 LATVIA
90' +3
Varslavans surges down the right flank and wins a corner for the visitors in the dying seconds. Latvia have one last chance to get a draw.
90' +2
Molumby drives into the box, but opts against the strike in favour of retaining possession. Ireland are close to sealing out the win here.
90'
McClean swings the ball into the box into a dangerous area. Steinbors misses his punch, but it skims off Egan's head and rolls behind for a goal-kick.
There will be three minutes of added time.
89'
Ogbene wins a free-kick in the corner, drawing a shove from Cernomordijs. Ireland have the chance to take further time off the clock.
88'
Browne is back on his feet and the game resumes.
87'
Browne sends the ball into touch and goes down in need of treatment.
85'
Ireland are continuing to push men forward into the final third to kill off the game, but they must be wary of the threat of Latvia on the counter.
82'
J. Hendrick enters the game and replaces W. Smallbone.
Smallbone is replaced by Hendrick after a fine outing on his Ireland debut.
81'
D. Ikaunieks enters the game and replaces R. Uldriķis.
Ikaunieks enters the action in the final third for Latvia.
Minute
Description
78'
Browne plays in Ogbene down the inside-right channel, but he snatches at his strike and slices it wide of the target.
77'
J. McClean enters the game and replaces C. O'Dowda.
O'Dowda opened his Ireland account with a well-placed header. McClean replaces the wing-back down the left flank.
75'
Browne does well in his defensive duties down the right flank to prevent Sorokins from lifting a cross into the Ireland box. The home side do not want to concede another equaliser tonight.
73'
T. Parrott enters the game and replaces E. Ferguson.
Ferguson notched his first Ireland goal tonight and now makes way for Parrott.
71'
R. Varslavāns enters the game and replaces A. Cigaņiks.
A. Saveļjevs enters the game and replaces A. Zjuzins.
Zjuzins makes way after a solid performance and is replaced by Savelievs.
Varslavans replaces Ciganiks on the left flank for Latvia.
70'
Egan rises to attack the resulting corner from Smallbone, who flights the ball towards the penalty spot. Egan makes decent contact with his header, but sends it over the top.
69'
A. Cigaņiks gets yellow.
Ciganiks catches Browne with a late boot and goes into the book.
Ferguson raids forward and releases Johnston on the right flank. Johnston looks for a cutback towards his team-mate in the middle, but Zjuzins sticks out a boot to send the ball behind for a corner.
66'
A. Jaunzems enters the game and replaces J. Ikaunieks.
Jaunzems replaces Ikaunieks for the visitors on the right flank.
65'
C. Ogbene has scored a goal for Republic of Ireland!
64'
M. Johnston enters the game and replaces M. Obafemi.
Johnston replaces Obafemi after a solid outing from the forward.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! OGBENE SCORES ON THE REBOUND!!!!! 3-2 IRELAND!!!!! Ireland are back in front as their subs make an instant impact as Johnston rattles the post and Ogbene scores the rebound. Johnston surges at the Latvia defence and opens up room for a strike at goal. His effort clatters off the post, but Ogbene is first to the rebound to steer the ball home.
63'
J. Egan enters the game and replaces A. Omobamidele.
C. Ogbene enters the game and replaces M. Doherty.
Omobamidele is withdrawn by Ireland and is replaced at the back by Egan.
Ogbene replaces Doherty that will require a re-shuffle in the ranks.
61'
Doherty feeds Smallbone down the right flank and he has options in the middle, but his low cross is gathered at the near post by Steinbors.
59'
Ireland have lacked the same level of potency at the start of the second half as they enjoyed in the first period. Kenny may turn to his bench.
56'
R. Krollis enters the game and replaces V. Gutkovskis.
Gutkovskis is withdrawn in the final third for the visitors and is replaced by Krollis.
Smallbone and Ferguson combine down the right flank. Doherty drifts in off his wing to collect Ferguson's pass and shoots on his left foot, but he places his effort wide of the left post.
54'
Uldrikis fends off a challenge and is afforded time to fire at goal from 20 yards. However, he cannot generate any power on his effort and Kelleher gets down to make a routine stop.
52'
OVER! Browne rolls the ball to Ferguson, who takes a touch and launches a strike at goal. He sends his strike well over the top and takes a knock in the process.
50'
Obafemi turns past two challenges in the inside-right channel before Tobers halts his progress with a well-timed intervention.
48'
Obafemi makes a break into the inside-right channel and tests the hands of Steinbors with a low strike that the keeper holds at the second attempt.
46'
M. Ošs enters the game and replaces D. Balodis.
We're back under way at the Aviva Stadium.
Oss replaces Baldodis at the break for Latvia at the back.
45' +2
HALF-TIME: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 2-2 LATVIA
45' +1
A. Zjuzins has scored a goal for Latvia!
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! ZJUZINS LEVELS FOR LATVIA!!!!! 2-2!!!!!!! The visitors level the scores on the stroke of half-time as Zjuzins' blast travels through a crowd and beats Kelleher. Ireland fail to clear the danger from a free-kick and Zjuzins powers a first-time strike towards goal. It takes a deflection that wrong-foots Kelleher, who gets a hand to the ball, but fails to keep it out.
45'
There will be one minute of added time.
Molumby catches Gutkovskis with a stray arm and hands Lativa a free-kick on the half-way line.
43'
Ireland have moved the ball well around the pitch in the contest and Kenny will be pleased that his side are constantly asking questions of the visitors at the back.
41'
Smallbone probes in the inside-right channel with another good run. Sorokins has to track him to deflect his cross behind for a corner.
39'
Kenny will be happy with his side's performance, but the stunning strike from Uldrikis has just taken the gloss off the first half for the hosts.
38'
BLOCK! Cernomordijs makes a vital block on the slide to stop Obafemi finding the back of the net after he was played through into the Latvia box by Browne.
35'
Obafemi appeals for a penalty as the ball strikes the arm of Balodis in the Latvia box, but the referee is not convinced.
33'
R. Uldriķis has scored a goal for Latvia! Assist by V. Sorokins.
Sorokins feeds Uldrikis before he powers his effort past Kelleher from 25 yards.
WHAT A GOAL!!!!! ULDRIKIS SCORES A STUNNER!!!!!! 2-1!!!!! Latvia are back in the game as Uldrikis launches a super strike into the top-right corner. Sorokins feeds the forward 25 yards from goal in a central position. He turns away from Molumby and hammers his right-footed shot past Kelleher into the back of the net. A spectacular goal from the Latvia forward.
30'
Savalnieks breaks forward and attempts to combine with Gutkovskis, but he loses possesssion and O'Shea wins a goal-kick, smashing the ball off the legs of the Latvia wing-back.
28'
Collins attacks Smallbone's corner from the left flank, but he plants his effort wide of the right post. Ireland are winning all the aerial battles so far.
27'
FUMBLE! O'Dowda latches onto Doherty's cross after more good work from Smallbone. He powers a lef-footed drive at goal that Steinbors fumbles behind for an Ireland corner.
25'
Ferguson rises from the resulting corner to attack Smallbone's cross, but he glances his header comfortably wide of the target.
24'
Ferguson causes problems in the final third with a good run into the inside-right channel and he wins a corner for the home side as his strike is deflected into the side-netting.
19'
Ferguson has continued his impressive form for Brighton in front of goal tonight. Kenny will be delighted by his side's start.
17'
E. Ferguson has scored a goal for Republic of Ireland! Assist by M. Obafemi.
Obafemi pounces on the rebound from Doherty's cross that is pushed away by Steinbors. He steers the ball back into the middle for Ferguson to score.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! FERGUSON OPENS HIS IRELAND ACCOUNT!!!! 2-0!!!!!!!! Ferguson notches his first international goal converting from close range on his left foot. Smallbone breaks down the right flank and offloads to Doherty, who angles a dangerous cross to the back post. Steinbors has to backpedal to turn his cross away from goal, but Obafemi flicks it back into the middle. Ferguson is alive to the rebound and slots the ball home.
14'
OVER! Ferguson collects an offload from Smallbone on the edge of the box and creates space on his left foot to fire at goal, only to launch his effort over the top.
12'
Smallbone lifts another dangerous cross into the middle that Ferguson just cannot bring under control amid pressure from Balodis.
11'
Tobers has to get back to put in a strong sliding challenge to prevent Ferguson breaking through on goal after he latched onto an incisive throughball from Doherty.
10'
O'Dowda floats a ball forward for Obafemi to collect, but he cannot bring it under control in the final third and loses possession.
6'
C. O'Dowda has scored a goal for Republic of Ireland! Assist by W. Smallbone.
Smallbone notches an assist on his debut with a pinpoint cross that allows O'Dowda to convert.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! O'DOWDA HEADS IRELAND IN FRONT!!!!!! 1-0!!!! The home side take the lead as O'Dowda guides a header past Steinbors from close range. Ireland move the ball down the right flank where Doherty offloads to Smallbone. He whips a dangerous cross into the middle that O'Dowda attacks, breaking in behind Savalnieks, before placing his diving header into the bottom-right corner.
3'
Collins steps out of the Ireland defence and tries to find O'Dowda on the left flank, but Savalnieks nips in to steer it away from the wing-back.
1'
We're under way at the Aviva Stadium.
Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the friendly match between the Republic of Ireland and Latvia at the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland return to action for the first time since November as they prepare for their first European Championship 2024 qualifier against France next week. Stephen Kenny's men were last in action against Malta and secured a 1-0 win in their friendly clash and will be keen to pick up from where they left off. Ireland are trying to blood young players into the fold in an attempt to qualify for the Euros and tonight marks a good chance to make a statement.
Latvia also failed to qualify for the World Cup last year so have not been in action since the Baltic Cup in November, where they lost out in the final to Iceland on penalties. Dainis Kazakevics' side face Wales in their first Euro 2024 qualifier next week so they will also be looking to find a rhythm to start their campaign on the front foot. Ireland will provide a strong test of their credentials.
IRELAND (3-4-3): Caoimhin Kelleher; Andrew Omobamidele, Dara O'Shea, Nathan Collins; Matt Doherty, Jayson Molumby, Alan Browne, Callum O'Dowda; Michael Obafemi, Evan Ferguson, William Smallbone.
LATVIA (4-4-2): Pavels Steinbors; Roberts Savalnieks, Daniels Balodis, Antonijs Cernomordijs, Vladislavs Sorokins; Janis Ikaunieks, Arturs Zjuzins, Kristers Tobers, Andrejs Ciganiks; Roberts Uldrikis, Vladislavs Gutkovskis.
LATVIA SUBS: Marcis Oss, Kaspars Dubra, Maksims Tonisevs, Roberts Ozols, Davis Ikaunieks, Alvis Jaunzems, Elvis Stuglis, Raimonds Krollis, Aleksejs Saveljevs, Nils Purins, Renars Varslavans, Emils Birka, Eduards Daskevics.
IRELAND SUBS: Gavin Bazunu, John Egan, Josh Cullen, Troy Parrott, James McClean, Jeff Hendrick, Will Keane, Jason Knight, Jamie McGrath, Mark Travers, Chiedozie Ogbene, Mark Sykes, Michael Johnston.
Stephen Kenny would have been delighted with his side's performance in the opening 30 minutes, but sloppy defending has allowed Latvia back into the game. Ireland need to regain their intiative from the early stages of the half to get back in front.
Ireland face France in their European Championship qualifier at home on Monday. Latvia are also in Euros qualifying action against Wales on the road next Tuesday.
Thanks for joining our commentary today. Until next time, goodbye.
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