Evan Ferguson and Will Smallbone were the star men in an interesting night at the Aviva on Wednesday.
Ireland found themselves 2-0 up and cruising with Callum O'Dowda and Evan Ferguson both scoring.
Latvia scored two sucker punch goals before the half only for Chiedoze Ogbene to score the winner in the second half.
Here are the player ratings for the game.
Player ratings
Caoimhin Kelleher 6 - Barely touched the ball before fishing it out of his net twice in quick succession.
Andrew Omobamidele 6 - Back after missing 2022 but faded a little after a good start
Nathan Collins 6 - Needed the game after losing his Wolves place and a mixed bag here.
Dara O’Shea 7 - Collided with O’Dowda before Latvia’s second but cool and calm otherwise
Matt Doherty 6 - Stand-in skipper had a role in both goals but guilty of some stray passes.
Jayson Molumby 7 - Key role in opener and put himself about with a highly energetic display.
Alan Browne 6 - Should have scored with a first-half shot but drilled it straight at the keeper
Callum O’Dowda 7 - Opened the scoring and may have played his way into the team for France.
Will Smallbone 8 - MOTM on debut with an assist and key role in the second and in the mix for France
Evan Ferguson 7 - Headline grabber with a first goal on his first senior star. A real handful.
Michael Obafemi 6 - Provided the assist for Ferguson’s goal and could have scored himself
IRELAND SUBS:
John Egan for Omobamidele (63 mins) - 6
Chiedozie Ogbene for Doherty (63 mins) - 7
Mikey Johnston for Obafemi (63 mins) - 7
Troy Parrott for Ferguson (73 mins) - 5
James McClean for O’Dowda (77 mins) - 5
Jeff Hendrick for Smallbone (82 mins) - 5
Subs not used: Bazunu, Travers, Cullen, Keane, Knight, McGrath, Sykes.
LATVIA: Steinbors (GK), Savaļnieks, Balodis (Oss 45), Cernomordijs, Sorokins; J. Ikaunieks (Jaunzems 66), Zjuzins (Saveljevs 71), Tobers, Cigaņiks; Uldrikis (Ikaunieks 81), Gutkovskis (Krollis 56)
Referee: A Chivulete (Romania)
