Verpakovskis seals Latvia win

Slovenia 0-1 Latvia

Verpakovskis winner
The visitors have had mixed form since earning qualification, but Maris Verpakovskis added to his growing tally of international goals with the winner. Slovenia, though, were always in the running in a match inaugurating the new Športni Park stadium in Celje. The form of Latvian goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko was the key to Slovenia's frustration.

Astafjevs milestone
Vitalis Astafjevs won his 100th cap for Latvia and the captain was presented with a bouquet before the game. The home side had no absentees, with Zlatko Zahovic and captain Miran Pavlin both taking their places in midfield having renounced international retirements, and Ermin Šiljak, the top scorer in EURO 2004™ qualifying, up front.

Bright start
Slovenia only missed out on qualification for this summer's tournament in a play-off against Croatia, and were clearly determined to prove they were a force to be reckoned with. Milenko Acimovic's curled free-kick on five minutes forced Kolinko to pull off one of a number of early saves, while Nastja Ceh's powerful long-range effort was turned wide by the visiting goalkeeper.

Prohorenkovs arrives
Zahovic unsurprisingly was a lively presence and a clever corner where the ball was hit deep to the SL Benfica man to chip into the area again brought Kolinko into action. But having survived the first 20 minutes, what appeared a blow for Latvia - striker Marians Pahars limping off - proved a fillip as Andrejs Prohorenkovs was pressed into action. He proved an inspiring force up front alongside Verpakovskis and just over a quarter of an hour after appearing the substitute made the opening goal.

Latvia ahead
Prohorenkovs chased a through-ball into the Slovenian box and skipped past Aleksander Knavs. Close to the by-line, he squared the ball for the onrushing Verpakovskis to gratefully half-volley into the net from close range. Slovenia rallied, and only fine defending from Aleksandrs Isakovs stopped Zahovic, but the final chance of the half fell to Prohorenkovs, whose strong shot from 20 metres nearly forced its way in.

Powerful header
Astafjevs came close to a goal to cap a memorable day six minutes after the break, but his powerful header from Jurijs Laizans' cross was over. Laizans himself had a fine effort soon after, but saw his shot from the edge of the area saved by Marko Simeunovic.

Zahovic effort
At this point Slovenian coach Bojan Prašnikar began to ring the changes, Goran Šukalo, Robert Koren, Ermin Rakovic and Fabijan Cipot all arriving at various points before the 70-minute mark. This seemed to reinvigorate Slovenia, and Zahovic, notably, went close with a long-range effort that whistled past the post.

Morale-boosting win
The replacements continued as Astafjevs departed for Andrejs Rubins, debutant Damir Botonjic came on to keep goal for Slovenia and Verpakovskis also left the field. Slovenia continued to press, and Šiljak hit the post in the final minute, but a morale-boosting victory was Latvia's to savour.