Turkish national team’s woes continue in 3-3 draw against Latvia

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Beşiktaş’s Olcay Şahan (R) scored the opener in the ninth minute, but Latvia managed to come back from two goals down to equalize late on. AA photo

Turkey’s miserable international form continued on May 28, as the national football side was forced to settle for a 3-3 draw against Baltic outsiders Latvia during a friendly in Duisburg, Germany.

With hopes of reaching the 2014 World Cup effectively in tatters, Turkish coach Abdullah Avcı entertained a number of different options throughout the match, making five substitutions during the match.

Beşiktaş’s Olcay Şahan, Galatasaray’s Selçuk İnan and Eskişehirspor’s Veysel Sarı scored for Turkey, while Edgaras Gauracs and Valerijs Sabala, with a brace, responded for Latvia, who came from two goals down to equalize late on.

In a playoff 10 years ago, Latvia famously beat heavily favored Turkey 3-2 on aggregate to qualify for Euro 2004.

Turkey is fourth in Group D qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, 11 points behind the group leader, the Netherlands.