Yerevan, September 29 – The Armenian national football team faced Montenegro in the second round of the UEFA Nations League qualifiers, suffering a 2-3 defeat at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
In the opening minutes of the match, both teams created several good opportunities to break the deadlock. However, it was Montenegro who took the lead in the 20th minute when Erik Piloyan of Armenia scored an own goal during a Montenegrin attack.
The Armenian side quickly responded. In the 34th minute, during a swift counter-attack, Artur Serobyan, playing his 30th match for the national team, found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball into the net, leveling the score. Yet, just four minutes later, Montenegro regained their lead with a long-range strike from Nikola Kristovic.
The second half saw Armenia fight back once more. In the 65th minute, captain Eduard Spertsyan scored a spectacular long-range goal, once again equalizing the score. The tension remained high until the final moments of the game. In the 88th minute, Montenegro secured their victory with a goal from Latkovic, bringing the final score to 2-3.
Upcoming Matches and Team Outlook
The Armenian national team will play their third UEFA Nations League match on October 2, facing Cyprus in an away game.
Despite the loss, coach Yegishe Melikyan expressed confidence in the team’s future. “I am confident that this team has a future,” Melikyan stated, emphasizing the potential of the squad.
Additional Football News
Other recent football news includes the announcement of Armenia’s starting lineup against Montenegro and the regional phase of the “RA Prime Minister’s Cup” swimming tournament for schoolchildren, set to begin on October 1.
The Armenian Chess Federation also celebrated success, with both the men’s and women’s national chess teams winning medals in separate subgroups.
The Armenian Football Federation is expected to analyze the match and prepare for the upcoming fixture against Cyprus, aiming to improve their standing in the Nations League.
