YEREVAN — The Armenian national football team suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Montenegro in the second round of UEFA Nations League Group C2 at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan.

The highly dramatic encounter saw Montenegro take the lead in the 20th minute through an own goal by Armenian defender Erik Piloyan.

Armenia responded quickly, with Artur Serobyan finding the net in the 34th minute to level the score. The match marked Serobyan’s milestone 30th appearance for the Armenian national team, and the goal was his second at senior international level.

Just four minutes later, however, Nikola Krstović restored Montenegro’s advantage, scoring in the 38th minute to send the visitors into halftime with a 2-1 lead.

Armenia drew level once again in the second half. In the 65th minute, Eduard Spertsyan produced a superb long-range strike to beat the Montenegrin goalkeeper, scoring his 14th goal for the national team and making it 2-2.

The match appeared headed for a draw, but Montenegro struck just one minute before the end of regulation time. In the 89th minute, Aleksa Latković converted a pass from Risto Radunović to score the visitors’ winning goal and seal a dramatic 3-2 victory.

In the group’s other match, Latvia and Cyprus played to a goalless draw.

Armenia will play its next UEFA Nations League match on October 2, when it travels to face Cyprus.