Latvia hit back to hold Turkey

• Latvia and Turkey still looking for first Group A wins after draw 
• Bilal Kisa opens the scoring on 47 minutes with long-range drive
• Valērijs Šabala draws Latvia level from the penalty spot
• Latvia's Gints Freimanis is sent off in added time
• Next games: Netherlands v Latvia, Turkey v Kazakhstan (16 November)

Turkey picked up their first point of UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying with a 1-1 draw in Latvia, but it was not enough to take them off the foot of Group A. After losing their opening two games, Turkey hit their stride when Bilal Kisa fired them in front early in the second half, but Valērijs Šabala's equaliser from the spot left both sides without a win in the section.

Turkey pressed from the outset and Umut Bulut grazed the post with a shot in the eighth minute. Goalkeeper Aleksandrs Koļinko was in the Latvia team that stunned Turkey in the UEFA EURO 2004 play-offs, and the 39-year-old saved from Olcay Şahan then Umut in quick succession. The chances kept coming, but Turkey could not capitalise. On 35 minutes Umut prodded Caner Erkin's cross tamely goalwards then Arda Turan's low strike whistled wide.

The injury problems that have hampered Turkey's campaign deepened when Oğuzhan Özyakup was forced off, but his replacement Kisa soon found the finishing touch his side were lacking. Two minutes into the second period, the midfielder crashed a shot from 24 metres that soared beyond Koļinko and into the net.

Within seven minutes, however, Latvia were level. Aleksejs Višņakovs was upended by Ozan Tufan in the area and Šabala sent Volkan Babacan the wrong way from the spot for Latvia's first goal of the campaign. The game opened up: Büyük Adem then Višņakovs both had attempts saved before Arda then Kaspars Dubra came close late on. Turkey stepped up the pressure when Gints Freimanis received a second yellow in added time, but they could not find a winner.