Montenegro strike late to break Latvian hearts and secure Nations League promotion

Aleksa Maraš scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Montenegro defeated Latvia 2-1 in Podgorica, securing promotion to League B of the UEFA Nations League. Despite playing with a numerical advantage for more than half an hour, Latvia suffered another heartbreaking defeat and were confirmed in fourth place in Group C2.

Following Armenia’s 1-1 draw against Cyprus earlier in the evening, Latvia knew they needed at least a point to avoid finishing bottom of the group.

Backed by passionate home supporters, Montenegro made the brighter start and created the first two opportunities of the match, with Latvia goalkeeper Rihards Matrevics producing an excellent save to deny Vasilije Adžic.

Latvia gradually settled into the contest and began creating chances of their own. Roberts Uldriķis had two excellent opportunities to put the visitors ahead, first missing the target from inside the penalty area before sending a close-range header narrowly over the crossbar.

With heavy rain pouring down at the City Stadium in Podgorica, neither side managed to break the deadlock before half-time.

The match took a dramatic turn in the second half when Montenegro captain Stefan Savic received his second yellow card in the 57th minute, leaving the hosts with ten men.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Montenegro took the lead in the 70th minute when Nikola Krstovic rose highest to head home from a corner.

Latvia responded almost immediately. Andrejs Cigaņiks delivered a corner into the penalty area, where Deniss Meļņiks found the net to score his first senior international goal and bring the visitors level.

With the extra man, Latvia pushed forward in search of a winner.

However, the decisive moment came at the opposite end in the first minute of stoppage time. Montenegro substitute Dušan Vukovic attempted an audacious effort that caught Matrevics off guard. The ball struck the post and rolled across the goalmouth, where fellow substitute Aleksa Maraš reacted quickest to turn it into the empty net.

The dramatic late winner sparked celebrations among the home supporters, securing Montenegro first place in Group C2 and promotion to League B.

For Latvia, the defeat confirmed a last-place finish in the group despite another competitive performance and a lengthy spell with a numerical advantage.

Paolo Nicolato’s side will conclude their Nations League campaign on Sunday when they host Armenia at Skonto Stadium in Riga.