Latvia save best till last

Maris Verpakovskis and Jurijs Laizans turned on the style in Riga as Latvia consigned Liechtenstein to bottom spot in Group F.

Latvia stroll
The visitors were given the ideal start when Dzintars Zirnis scored an own goal on 13 minutes, but Girts Karlsons hit back for the hosts seconds later and after that the result was never in doubt. Verpakovskis fired Latvia into the lead on 30 minutes before second-half strikes from Laizans and substitute Aleksejs Višnakovs sealed the victory.

Own goal
Aleksandrs Starkovs' men had begun the brighter, creating a number of early chances, but against the run of play Liechtenstein went in front. Franz Burgmeier powered down the left and crossed for Raphael Rohrer only for Zirnis to slide in and deflect the ball into his own net. The advantage lasted less than a minute as Latvia pushed forward from the restart. Verpakovskis flicked Laizans's header into the path of Karlsons who raced into the area and drove low into the bottom right corner.

Laizans strikes
Latvia were ahead on 30 minutes when Laizans fed Verpakovskis who scored with a low strike, before making the game safe after the break. On 63 minutes Laizans netted with a fine individual effort: picking up Oskars Klava's pass on the edge of the box, he beat two defenders before firing in. Substitute Višnakovs completed the rout moments from time after good work by substitute Marians Pahars.