Moldova Earn First Point, Denied Win By Late Latvian Comeback

Moldova and Latvia played out a 3-3 showdown which featured two red cards, a penalty kick and unfortunately what appear to be two major injuries for Moldova’s Claudia Chiper and Carolina Tabur. Moldova’s goals were scored by Felicia Gutu, Nadejda Colescnicenco and Veronica Cojuhari. Latvia’s Karlina Miksone grabbed a brace, while substitute Sandra Voitane completed the scoring to save the point in injury time.

Line-Ups

Moldova’s Nicolae Bunea made a swap between the goalposts from Friday’s match, with Margarita Panova getting the nod, while Denisa Bojenco dropped to the bench. In defence, there was also one change from the team that met Latvia on Friday, with Valeria Virlan starting in the left-back role ahead of Anastasia Sivolobova who was unnamed on the bench.

Meanwhile, Latvia’s Romans Kvacovs was understandably happy by the squad that triumphed by 5-0 on Friday. In fact, the coach made no changes to the starting eleven.

Moldova Open The Scoring

Latvia came into the match with the confidence of the previous fixture, and had the upper hand in the opening minutes of the match. The side registered a number of shots within the opening quarter of an hour. However, Moldova’s defence were determined to deny them the opening goal with Panova getting involved to keep her clean sheet.

It was actually Moldova who got very close quarter of an hour into the match. Claudia Chiper was released behind the defence following a weighted ball, managed to chip the rushing goalkeeper but was denied by the crossbar. The goal would not have counted anyway because of the offside flag. 

Moldova’s Anastasia Toma was lively in midfield and won free-kick in a central position around thirty-yards out. Carolina Tabur lined it up, but the wall did its job, before the rebound strike was skied.

The home side continued causing trouble for the visitors with more runs straight through the centre of midfield. Claudia Chiper won a corner close to the half-hour mark with another of her darts up the pitch which led to the opening goal. Although the visitors defended the first corner, they could not deny Moldova from the second. Carolina Tabur delivered toward Veronica Cojuhari, who cushioned it toward an unmarked Felicia Gutu. The defender beat the goalkeeper from the six-yard box to send her team into the lead close to the half hour mark.

The visitors attempted to get behind the Moldovan defence with direct play on multiple occasions, but the Moldovan defence was alert to the danger. Whenever the ball escaped the defensive line, Margarita Panova appeared ready to sweep whenever needed while also calm in building from the back.

At the other end, Moldova’s Carolina Tabur made a dash up the right-wing, but a cross into the box around the 40th minute was snuffed out by the defence. Having appeared rattled since conceding the goal, the Latvians found some attacking momentum through Diana Suvitra. The youngster got past Valeria Virlan before delivering into the box. However, Margarita Panova claimed the ball in flight.

The visitors had an opportunity to trouble Moldova close to half-time, as Anna Gornela won the ball in midfield and released into Karlina Miksone. The forward made a run into the penalty box dragging four Moldovan players with her. However, Madalena Badiceanu made the cleanest of tackles to deny the forward the opportunity to strike.

Half-Time Score: Moldova 1 – 0 Latvia

Two Goals In Four Minutes

It did not take long for Latvia to find their equaliser on the restart. The 49th minute saw Viktorija Zaicikova launch a ball over the top of the Moldovan defence toward Karlina Miksone. The forward was as cool as a cucumber in placing into the bottom right corner to get her team level. The Moldovans were somewhat annoyed that play was not stopped in the lead-up to the goal following an injury to Claudia Chiper.

The midfielder soldiered on following receiving treatment and returned to the pitch just in time for the second goal. In fact, the score remained level for only three minutes. Carolina Tabur won a free-kick on the left-wing, which she delivered into the box for the Moldova’s second goal of the night. Felicia Gutu headed it toward the post, which saw Nadejda Colescnicenco head into the far corner of the net to get Moldova back into the lead.

Roman Kvacovs looked to his bench and brought on Anna Valaka instead of Anastasija Poluhovica. Forced to chase the game once more, Olga Sevcova tested Margarita Panova with a direct free-kick toward the hour mark. However, the central strike lacked the necessary power to trouble the goalkeeper who was happy to collect. Meanwhile, the Moldovan supporters made their voices heard, willing their team to retain the lead.

The Latvians got close to getting themselves level on the 66th minute, when Olga Sevocva picked out Diana Suvitra in the box. However, the forward could not replicate Friday’s goalscoring touch and got underneath it, letting Moldova off the hook.

Carolina Tabur won another corner off the right wing in the 70th minute. She picked out Veronica Cojuhari but her attempted was claimed by Enija-Anna Vaivode. At the other end, Olga Sevcova delivered another free-kick from deep within the midfield, but the Moldovan defence cleared the danger without too much sweat.

Latvia Down To Ten, Moldova Make It Three

The visitors started piling the shots with Sofija Garanca lining one from the edge of the box but was off-target. It was one of the final plays of the match for the defender. The full-back got all of Claudia Chiper and none of the ball shortly after, which saw the referee change a yellow card into red, leaving Latvia chasing the match with ten players.

The harrowing tackle ended Chiper’s night who was replaced by Lia Vlas. Meanwhile, Latvia’s Diana Suvitra gave way to Sandra Voitane.

The Moldovans almost got a cheap third when Anastasija Rocane rose to defend Carolina Tabur’s free-kick delivery and was relieved to see her header just wide of her own goal. However, Moldova did make it three from the resulting corner kick. Carolina Tabur delivered into Veronica Cojuhari who looped the header into the right side of the goal to give her team a two goal cushion in the 78th minute.

Moldova Down To Ten

The home side kept the momentum and Cristina Cerescu was not too far off with a direct free-kick on the 80th minute mark. At the other end, Daniela Mardari received a second yellow following a foul, evening the number of players on the pitch once more.

Time trickled toward full-time, with Moldova doing their best to push themselves up the pitch. Valeria Virlan made a dart up the pitch before being blocked by Paula Linina, which continued to see more time slip from the visitors.

Nicolae Bunea made three substitutions in the 87th minute. Carolina Tabur’s was a forced substitution after she needed to be stretchered out from the pitch. She was replaced by Carina Doiban. Meanwhile, Veronica Cojuhari gave way to Iuliana Colnic, while Anastasia Toma was replaced by Francesca Covali.

Latvia Comeback

The drama still had time to unfold further as Olga Sevcova was clipped by Cristina Cerescu in the box, earning Latvia a life-line penalty in the 90th minute. Karlina Miksone stood over the ball and placed into the right corner to get her team within one goal of a draw, with ten minutes of injury time still to play.

With two of their sharpest attackers off the pitch, Moldova were pinned into their own half for most of the remaining minutes. Latvia’s Miksone was released into the box with a long throw-in but Panova was first to the ball.

The goalkeeper denied Miksone from a header with a spectacular dive to get a hand on it. However, the lead would not be intact much longer. Olga Sevcova delivered the corner into Sandra Voitane who got a foot on the ball at the far post and into the net at the other side, getting Latvia level in the sixth minute of injury time.

The home crowd raised their voices desperate for their team to hold on to the point. Meanwhile, Nicolae Bunea made one more substitution bringing on Eugenia Railean instead of Valeria Virlan.

Karlina Miksone won her side another free-kick with a final opportunity to snatch themselves a late win. The short routine saw Zaicikova receive the ball on the edge of the penalty box, but her strike was off-target.

Full-Time Score: Moldova 3 – 3 Latvia

Standings

The draw earns Moldova their first point in the competition, while Latvia take their tally to seven points. Having been the better team for much of the match will give Moldova confidence to earn more points in their final two encounters. They will welcome Malta at home, before travelling to Andorra to complete their commitments.

Elsewhere, Malta beat Andorra by 3-0 later in the evening, which sees them increase their points to twelve at the top. It means that Latvia will need to win both encounters against Andorra and Malta, while hoping that Moldova win the match against Malta if they are to top the group and earn automatic promotion ahead of the latter.

Lead Image: Anna Rotary / Moldova FA

Stay up to date by following The Sporting Fan on social media: Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X