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Published: Sunday October 11, 2009 MYT 7:48:00 AM
Updated: Sunday October 11, 2009 MYT 7:51:13 AM

Greece beats Latvia 5-2 in World Cup qualifying

ATHENS, Greece (AP): Theofanis Gekas scored four goals Saturday to lead Greece to a 5-2 win over Latvia and keep the team's hopes of advancing to the World Cup alive.

The Bayer Leverkusen striker scored in the fourth minute from a cross by Giorgos Karagounis, added an equalizing penalty in the 47th, headed in another goal 10 minutes later and collected his fourth in injury time.

Maris Verpakovskis, who plays for Greek side Ergotelis, had scored for Latvia in the 12th and 40th minutes.

Georgios Samaras scored Greece's fourth goal in the 73rd with an overhead kick. Greece is second in Group 2 with 17 points, three behind leader Switzerland and two in front of Israel, which beat Latvia 3-1 on Saturday. Latvia has 14 points.

"We started enthusiastically, but our opponent also fought to keep its hopes alive of reaching the World Cup, so it wasn't easy," Greece coach Otto Rehhagel said.

Asked what happened at halftime with Greece down 2-1, Rehhagel said: "I'd better not discuss it ... but I want to thank the spectators for their support."

Lineups: Greece: Alexandros Tzorvas, Vangelis Moras, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Giourkas Seitaridis, Vassilis Torosidis, Costas Katsouranis, Alexis Tziolis (Christos Patsatzoglou, 46), Giorgos Karagounis (Vassilis Pliatsikas, 88), Theofanis Gekas, Georgios Samaras, Dimitris Salpingidis (Ioannis Amanatidis, 46). Latvia: Andris Vanins, Oskars Klava, Deniss Ivanovs, Deniss Kacanovs, Kaspars Gorkss, Vladimirs Kolesnicenko, Juris Laizans, Aleksandrs Cauna, Andrejs Rubins (Genadijs Solonicins, 78), Maris Verpakovskis (Andrejs Pereplotkins, 84), Girts Karlsons (Kristaps Grebis, 72).

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