Latvia cruises to easy win

AP

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RIGA, Latvia (AP) – Striker Maris Verpakovskis scored two goals Wednesday, and Latvia cruised to a 4–0 victory over visiting Luxembourg in a European World Cup qualifier.

Imants Bleidelis and Juris Laizans also scored for Latvia, which has struggled since earning an improbable berth in last year's European Championship.

Luxembourg almost beat Latvia last September in Group 3, but the visitors got two late goals and a 4–3 win. Luxembourg came to Latvia optimistic of getting its first points in qualifying.

But after a slow start where both teams' attacks consisted of kicking long balls to their strikers, Latvia struck with two goals in a five–minute span.

Bleidelis put Latvia on the board in the 35th minute with a well–struck volley off of a cross from Andrejs Rubins.

After a deft display of footwork, Verpakovskis was dragged down in the penalty area five minutes later and Laizans buried the penalty kick to give the home side a 2–0.

Verpakovskis, who plays for Dynamo Kiev, scored in the 72nd minute on a deflection and again in the 89th off a cross from Viktors Morozs.

Latvia next plays at Russia on June 4, while Luxembourg is home with Slovakia on June 8.

Latvia: Aleksandrs Kolinko; Igors Stepanovs, Dzintars Zirnis, Maris Smirnovs, Imants Bleidelis (Mihails Miholaps, 69th min); Vitalijs Astafjevs, Juris Laizans, Andrejs Rubins (Vladimirs Zavoronkovs, 39), Viktors Morozs; Maris Verpakovskis, Andrejs Prohorenkovs (Vits Rimkus, 82).

Luxembourg: Marc Oberweis; Manou Schauls (Benoit Lang, 82), Tim Heinz, Eric Hoffmann, Jeff Strasser; Jomo Ferreira (Charles Leweck, 50), Rene Peters, Sebastian Remy, Philippe Durrer; Carlo Pace (Pol Mannon, 89), Dan Collette.