Latvia 0-2 Wales: Aaron Ramsey’s first half penalty and David Brooks’ late strike hands the visitors victory as Rob Page’s European Championship qualification hopes are given a boost

Rob Page breathed a sigh of relief after goals from Aaron Ramsey and David Brooks earned Wales victory in Latvia – and he now waits to see whether the win will keep him in a job.

Wales boss Page came into this Euro 2024 qualifier with his future in danger and though the performance was not enough to banish those doubts, the result at least kept alive Wales’ slim hopes of qualifying for next summer’s tournament in Germany.

Either side of Ramsey’s opener from the spot – with the kick awarded when Kaspars Dubra barged Harry Wilson over – Wales wasted a number of excellent chances before substitute Brooks sealed it in stoppage time.

Brennan Johnson fired wide twice when well placed, Ethan Ampadu, Ben Davies and Connor Roberts all went close and both Neco Williams and Harry Wilson should have done better when given a clear sight at goal.

And Wales were nearly made to pay when Latvia wasted three clear opportunities before half-time. The home side had done nothing for 40 minutes but came to life when Janis Ikaunieks’s close-range effort was scrambled wide by Danny Ward.

Ramsay scored in the 29th minute as he coolly rolled a penalty into the bottom corner

Bournemouth winger David Brooks (middle) added a second goal late in stoppage time

Wales manager Rob Page has been under-fire after a run of recent poor results

The Wales goalkeeper then flapped at the resulting corner and was relieved when Raimonds Krollis guided the ball wide on the stretch. From an almost identical position, Krollis did the same moments later and Wales were relieved to hear the whistle.

Soon after the break, Ramsey was forced off for reasons that were unclear, with Brooks replacing him and Davies taking the armband.

Wales were stunned midway through the second half when Ikaunieks was only booked for a dreadful, knee-high challenge on the impressive Jordan James – with referee Michal Ocenas bizarrely sticking with his original decision even though he was asked to take a second look by VAR. 

Brooks fluffed his lines in front of an open goal in the closing stages but Wales held on – and then Brooks’ calm finish in the closing seconds ended the contest.