Czech Republic were blessed to fight back from one goal down to beat Lativia 2-1 in their first match of Group D in the European Championshipss Tuesday in Aveiro, Portugal.

The debutant Latvians shocked the Czechs with a goal seconds before half-time through Maris Verpakovskis.

But the Czechs were able to equalize through Liverpool striker Milan Baros in the 73rd minute and hit the winner with five minutes remaining thanks to substitute Marek Heinz.

The Czechs created chances throughout the match, but the Latvians defended for more than an hour with goalkeeper AleksandrsKolinko a match for anything that came his way.

When Karel Poborsky crossed from the right in the 73rd minute Kolinko could only punch the ball out to Baros who buried his shotinto the net.

With five minutes left Kolinko was unable to claim a long through ball. The Latvian defence was in disarray and defender Mihails Zemlinskis could only clear weakly to Heinz who planted the ball firmly into the net with his left foot.

Latvia struck in first-half stoppage time. Verpakovskis netted from close range to finish off a counter-attack after a Czech attack broke down when Baros dwelled too long on the ball.

Igors Stepanovs released Maris Prohorenkovs who raced down the left before sending in a low cross to find the Dynamo Kiev striker.

The Czech Republic had dominated from the start creating several chances which either missed their target or were stopped by Kolinko in goal.

Heinz, on for Zdenek Grygera in the 56th minute, fired in a fierce shot which had Kolinko beaten but just flashed over the bar.

But Heinz was eventually found the neet with his 85th-minute winner as Latvia ran out of steam.