Latvia leave Malta with three points

Goals from Kaspars Gorkšs and Maris Verpakovskis secured Latvia a comfortable victory against Malta in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group F.

Beaten 3-0 at home by Croatia on Friday, the visitors were rarely in any danger once Gorkšs had struck two minutes before half-time. Verpakovskis made sure of their victory late on, leaving Malta still searching for their first points of the campaign after they lost their own opening match to Israel.

A low-key first half was drawing to a close when Gorkšs broke the deadlock by heading in Aleksandrs Cauņa's free-kick. With Shaun Bajada doing his best to help Malta back into proceedings, the hosts rallied somewhat after the break, but Verkapovskis eventually quelled the revolt from John Buttigieg's team when he outwitted André Agius and beat Andrew Hogg with a fine solo effort five minutes from time.