Montenegro 0-0 Armenia: Hosts frustrated in Nations League stalemate as Stefan Loncar sees late red

The clash at the Gradski Stadion saw hosts Montenegro, who topped Group C2 after three consecutive victories, face a determined Armenia side eager to avenge their 3-2 defeat in the reverse fixture.

Despite dominating possession, Montenegro failed to break down the visitors' resilient defence before midfielder Stefan Loncar was shown a straight red card in the 86th minute. Solid defending from both sides in the remaining minutes ensured a tense 0-0 draw.

Dominant hosts frustrated before late red card drama

Montenegro completely dominated the pitch with 64% possession. However, the hosts struggled to find a breakthrough against Armenia's deep-lying and highly disciplined defensive block.

In the second half, the introduction of star midfielder Eduard Spertsyan in the 56th minute bolstered the visitors' threat on the counter-attack. The turning point came in the 86th minute when Stefan Loncar was shown a straight red card following a reckless challenge.

Reduced to ten men in the closing stages, Montenegro were forced to drop deep and defend resolutely to preserve their point.

How Group C2 stands after scoreless stalemate

The lack of cutting edge from both attacks was clearly reflected in the match statistics. Montenegro registered seven attempts with five on target but failed to find the back of the net. At the other end, Armenia fashioned nine opportunities but tested the goalkeeper just once.

The shared spoils keep Montenegro top of Group C2 with 10 points from four matches, maintaining their impressive unbeaten run. Meanwhile, Armenia remain third on four points, keeping their hopes of chasing down the leaders alive ahead of the next round of fixtures.

The Verdict

This pragmatic draw allows Montenegro to maintain their grip on top spot in Group C2 and preserve their unbeaten record in this year's campaign. For Armenia, securing a hard-fought point on the road keeps their hopes of climbing the table alive. It was a fair result reflecting the resilient defensive efforts of both sides over the 90 minutes.

Do you think Montenegro can hold onto top spot for the remainder of the Nations League group stage?