Dečić's game is as gloomy as the weather over the Baltics - Lijepaja is better even with one less player

The gloomy weather that loomed over the Baltic Sea could describe Dečić's game at the start of the European Challenges.

The Montenegrin representative had a player more than the 22nd minute in the duel with Lijepaja in the 1st round of the Conference League qualifiers, but returned from Latvia defeated - 1:0.

Rain and wind greeted the team from Tuzi in Lijepaja, but the cooler weather didn't seem to wake up Ivan Brnović's team. Our representative's desire was there, but obviously nothing more could be expected from the first match of the season.

Dečič was well positioned on the field from the first minute, and when the advantage of more players arrived (home team captain Marvin Martins was sent off), it was expected that he would hold the ball and dictate the pace.

In the first half, he managed to create several good chances, primarily from the side where captain Džonatan Drešaj was not stopping, but Petar Pavlićević, despite his good moves, twice failed to find the net. Defender Nikola Braunović also had a good chance after a corner kick in that half.

Everything seemed much slower in the second half, Balša Radusinović's attempt wasn't too dangerous for the home team, but Lijepaja didn't lack speed.

Amar Hajdara escaped Dečić's defense in the 62nd minute, Tuzan was saved by goalkeeper Danilo Radošević, and it seems that this was not a warning for Brnović's men.

Just two minutes later, the penalty arrived. Pavlićević made a disastrous mistake while trying to pass the ball with his heel, and a counterattack was launched by Hajdara. The Mauritanian footballer passed perfectly to Ede Oloko, who easily checked Radošević (1:0).

Nothing changed until the end, Dečić tried, but without any real chances... Maybe he'll find them in the rematch in seven days, otherwise an express exit from Europe will follow.