Latvia
Latvia 1-2 Montenegro: Nations League Drama in Riga
Vasilije Adzic’s deadly double fired Montenegro to a 2-1 victory over Latvia in a UEFA Nations League thriller that crackled with late drama — but the hosts’ valiant fightback through Markuss Strods left Riga’s silenced stands aching with what might have been.
Montenegro’s Lightning Start
The visitors struck like thunder. Before Latvia could settle, Adzic arrowed Risto Radunović’s third-minute cutback past Roberts Matrevics — the fastest goal Montenegro have scored in 2026. The hosts wobbled, Antonijs Černomordijs earning a 39th-minute booking as their back five creaked under pressure.
Adzic’s Hammer Blow
Latvia’s halftime reshuffle changed nothing. Eleven minutes after the break, Adzic pounced on a loose ball, firing low through traffic for 2-0. The stats told a brutal truth: Montenegro’s six shots on target to Latvia’s one, each clinical finish a dagger.
Latvia’s Fury Too Late
When substitute Kristers Cudars teed up Strods to rifle home on 82 minutes, the Daugava Stadium erupted. Suddenly, Montenegro’s defence cracked — Aleksa Latkovic’s 94th-minute yellow card betraying nerves. But the clock beat Latvia’s rally, their 51% possession and 14 shots yielding just two on target in a cruel lesson in efficiency.
What This Means
The three points launch Montenegro’s Nations League campaign with momentum, Adzic announcing himself as their new talisman. For Latvia, the heartbreak of Strods’ near-heroics leaves Paolo Nicolato’s men bottom of League C Group 3 — their fightback proof of spirit but their finishing a lingering worry.
Key Moments
3′ ⚽ Montenegro — Vasilije Adzic (assist: Risto Radunović)
56′ ⚽ Montenegro — Vasilije Adzic
82′ ⚽ Latvia — Markuss Strods (assist: Kristers Cudars)🔮 Before kick-off: our match preview & prediction.
