Latvia collected their first point of the new UEFA Nations League campaign after playing out a 0-0 draw against Cyprus at Skonto Stadium. Both sides had opportunities to snatch victory late on, with Roberts Uldriķis seeing a promising effort blocked before Marcus Edwards struck the post with virtually the final kick of the game.
Paolo Nicolato made three changes to the starting line-up following the defeat against Armenia. Markuss Strods, Eduards Dašķevičs and Raivis Andris Jurkovskis dropped to the bench, while Roberts Savaļnieks and Eduards Emsis were among those brought into the side. Nicolato also changed his attacking approach, starting with two centre-forwards in Vladislavs Gutkovskis and Uldriķis.
Latvia once again made a slow start, with Cyprus registering their first shot on target after only three minutes. Two minutes later, the visitors created their first major opportunity when a loose ball fell kindly to Marcus Edwards in front of goal, but Rihards Matrevics reacted well to make the save and concede a corner.
The hosts struggled to create clear opportunities during the opening half. One of their more promising moments came following a long throw from Deniss Meļņiks, with Gutkovskis attempting a first-time finish that was blocked by a nearby defender.
Cyprus enjoyed a significant territorial advantage and controlled much of the first half, something reflected in the statistics as the visitors outshot Latvia 10-1 before the interval.
Latvia showed more attacking intent after the restart and quickly managed twice as many attempts as they had produced throughout the entire first half. Cyprus remained dangerous, however, and threatened on the break when one of their attackers found space behind the Latvian defence. Savaļnieks recovered well and applied enough pressure to force a poor final pass.
Uldriķis then produced Latvia’s most exciting individual moment of the evening. Receiving the ball centrally, the striker drove forward and powered his way past several Cyprus players before eventually being brought down just outside the penalty area. Savaļnieks stepped up for the resulting free-kick from a dangerous position but sent his effort over the crossbar.
Cyprus soon regained the initiative. Matrevics produced a good save to deny Ioannis Kosti from outside the penalty area before Edwards nearly caught the Latvian goalkeeper out from a set-piece. From a tight angle, Edwards opted to shoot towards the near post rather than deliver into the box. Matrevics, despite initially being surprised, reacted quickly enough to make the save, with the ball also striking the post before Latvia cleared the danger.
Nicolato made his first substitutions in the 78th minute, withdrawing Gutkovskis and Emsis for Strods and Dašķevičs as Latvia looked to add fresh energy going forward.
Two minutes later came Latvia’s biggest opportunity to win the match. Dašķevičs received the ball on the right and picked out Uldriķis centrally. The striker’s effort appeared dangerous, but a Cyprus defender bravely threw himself in front of the shot and headed it narrowly over the crossbar.
Cyprus continued to control possession during two minutes of stoppage time and came within centimetres of taking all three points with the final attack. Edwards unleashed a thunderous strike from the edge of the penalty area, only to see the ball crash against the post.
Latvia survived the late scare to secure their first point of the Nations League campaign following the opening defeat in Armenia. Nicolato’s side remain at Skonto Stadium for their next match, hosting Montenegro on Friday at 19:00.
