Latvia Concede in Stoppage Time and Lose to Montenegro in Nations League

Latvia's men's national football team lost 2-1 (0-0) to Montenegro in Podgorica on Thursday, 12 November, in the second group of League C of the UEFA Nations League, the third tier of the European national-team competition. After five rounds Latvia sit fourth in the group with one point, while Montenegro lead with 13 points and have already secured promotion to League B.

Denis Melnik scored Latvia's only goal. The first half produced a few chances at both ends: goalkeeper Rihards Matrevics had to step in several times against Montenegrin attacks, and in the 16th minute Roberts Uldriks sent the ball wide of the post after a pass from Eduards Daskevics. Just before the break, Melnik blocked a Montenegrin breakaway with a shot-block.

After the interval, Montenegro captain Stefan Savic was sent off for a second yellow card following a hard foul on Dennis Cirkins, leaving the hosts with ten men. Even so, Nikola Krstovic headed the ball into Latvia's net from a corner in the 70th minute. About two minutes later Melnik headed in from a corner taken by Andrejs Ciganiks to level the score in the 72nd minute.

Uldriks later had a chance after a pass from Cirkins, but the Montenegrin goalkeeper caught the ball. At the start of stoppage time, substitute Aleksa Maras secured the win for the hosts, and Latvia could not respond.

Background

In early October in Riga, Latvia had already lost to Montenegro 2-1 (0-1); Markuss Strods scored for Latvia, while Vasilije Adzic netted twice for the visitors. Montenegro are ranked 79th in the FIFA rankings, Latvia 143rd.

Cyprus have eight points in the group and Armenia five. In the other Thursday match, Armenia and Cyprus drew 1-1. In the final group game, Latvia will host Armenia on Sunday at the Skonto Stadium in Riga.

The next Nations League tournament, in 2028/2029, will use a different format: teams will compete in three leagues of 18 national teams each.