Latvia performed a miracle! The USA fell in an incredible thriller

Latvia pulled off perhaps the toughest feat of the World Cup so far by defeating the USA 4–2.

Kristers Gudļevskis stood between the posts. The Latvian goalkeeper made an impressive 45 saves in the match and rightfully earned the selection as his team’s best player.

The Latvian first line was poison for the USA. The trio of Rūdolfs Balcers, Deniss Smirnovs, and Sandis Vilmanis was difficult for the Americans to handle. The trio accounted for three goals, two of which were scored by Vilmanis into an empty net at the end of the game.

The match was filled with emotion. The Latvian crowd loudly cheered for their team, and the penalty box doors opened frequently.

Standings All Around

The game was tied 1–1 after two periods, with Haralds Egle and Matthew Tkachuk having scored. Smirnovs put the Latvians ahead in the third period, and from there began a determined defensive battle.

Vilmanis’s goal into the empty net made it 3–1 and seemed relieving, but shortly after, the confusing Mathieu Olivier brought the USA back within one goal. Then Vilmanis scored again into the empty net, and Latvia could celebrate its surprising victory.

The standings in the group have now completely changed. The Latvians still face Hungary and Great Britain and have now surpassed the USA in the group, so suddenly Latvia has an excellent chance to advance.

The USA’s path to the playoffs has become complicated. They have lost three games and also dropped a point to Germany. The team still faces Hungary and Austria but will have to worry about the results of the Austria and Germany games alongside Latvia’s matches.

In the other group, Denmark achieved a stylish 4–0 victory against Slovenia.