Latvia lose to Montenegro in Podgorica despite playing with a man advantage

Latvia's national football team lost 2-1 to Montenegro in a UEFA Nations League League C match, the European national-team competition, in Podgorica. Latvia gained a numerical advantage in the second half and equalised, but the hosts still scored a winning goal late in the game.

The result guarantees Montenegro first place in the group. Mirko Vucinic's side has won four of its five matches and drawn one. Latvia has just one point, from a draw with Cyprus, and sits last in the four-team group, with no chance of climbing higher.

How the match unfolded

Heavy rain and a difficult pitch marked the game. The hosts created danger near Latvia's goal from the start. In the fifth minute Nikola Krstovic narrowly failed to reach the ball, and in the 11th minute goalkeeper Rihards Matrevics made a fine save to stop a close-range shot from Vasilije Adzic. Latvia had a chance when Roberts Uldrikis shot from the edge of the box, but the ball went just past the post, and later his header from close range went over the crossbar.

In the second half, Montenegro captain Stefan Savic argued with the referee over a foul and received a second yellow card, leaving the hosts with ten men in the 57th minute. Even so, Montenegro took the lead in the 70th minute when Krstovic scored from a corner. Latvia levelled within minutes: Denis Melnik beat his marker to the ball at the far post and headed it in from close range in the 72nd minute.

At the start of stoppage time, Dusan Vukovic lifted the ball over the goalkeeper, it hit the post and rolled along the goal line, and Aleksa Maras finished from close range at the far post to make it 2-1.

Players' reactions

Melnik said the opponent's sending-off was a good opportunity that the team failed to use, adding that the side seemed to stall once it had the extra man. Matrevics said a red card does not always benefit the team with the advantage. Midfielder Eduards Daskevics said the defeat felt especially painful given how the game went.

What next

In the other group match, Armenia drew 1-1 at home with Cyprus. After five rounds, Montenegro have 13 points, Cyprus 8, Armenia 5 and Latvia 1. Latvia play their final match at home at Skonto Stadium on 15 November at 16:00 against Armenia. League C group winners are promoted to League B, runners-up enter play-offs, and third- and fourth-placed teams stay at the same level.