Latvia 0-1 Serbia Player Ratings: Strahinja Pavlovic Rated 9/10 as Vlahovic's Strike Seals Narrow 1-0 Victory

On 6th September, the Baltic and South Slav teams, Latvia and Serbia, faced each other in the European Qualifiers for the upcoming FIFA World Cup spot. Latvia, which is 4th in the table with 4 points, came into the match with intentions of securing 3 points, which would have equalized them with their opponents in the table with 7 points. However, the match at Daugava Stadium started with total dominance from the visitors, with Latvia barely crossing the halfway line in the first 10 minutes. The pressure created by the Serbian national football team got results in the 12th minute when the Juventus Striker Vlahovic opened the scoring for the team by scoring a header.

Shoulders were dropped from the time Vlahovic scored the goal, which allowed Serbia to make the most of it by creating chances up top, however, they failed to convert those chances. The first half ended 0-1, with the referee skipping added time due to efficient play. Serbia missed chances to extend its lead, while Latvia struggled to respond. The home side, however, got a chance to equalize in the 55th minute, but the chance was missed by the Latvian forward. The game went on at the same pace and hardly any chances were made by the hosts, which kept the scoreline at 0-1 in favour of Serbia at the time of the final whistle.

Here are the Latvia Vs Serbia Player Ratings

Latvia Player Ratings vs Serbia

Here are Latvia Player Ratings vs Serbia

Goalkeeper

Krisjanis Zviedris - 8.5: What a performance from the Latvian shot-stopper. He was the only reason his team was still in this game for 90 minutes. Zviedris made an incredible six saves, all from inside the box. That tells you everything about the pressure he was under. We noticed his positioning was excellent and his reflexes were sharp. He couldn't do anything about the goal, it was a brilliant strike. A truly heroic effort in a losing cause.

Defenders

Daniels Balodis - 6.0: A difficult night for the defender. He was constantly under pressure from Serbia's relentless attacks. He did manage four clearances which was important. However, he also lost a few key duels and looked a bit overwhelmed at times. From our perspective, he stuck to his task but the quality gap showed.

Vitalijs Jagodinskis - 5.5: Only lasted a half and it wasn't a great one. He made an error that led to a shot, a moment that could have been costly. We noticed he seemed a bit off the pace before being substituted. He made a couple of important blocks but it was a nervy 45 minutes for him. His early exit felt like a necessary change.

Raivis Jurkovskis - 6.5: A very busy evening for Jurkovskis. He was involved in a staggering 13 duels, winning a respectable eight of them. He was a battler, putting in seven tackles throughout the match. What stood out to us was his sheer determination. Despite his efforts, he was dribbled past a couple of times and lost possession more than he'd like.

Andrejs Ciganiks - 6.0: He had his moments both good and bad. Ciganiks contributed with five clearances and even created a chance for his team. On the other hand, losing the ball 12 times is far too high. It felt like he was trying to force things when a simpler pass was on. A mixed bag of a performance.

Alvis Jaunzems - 6.0: He worked hard down the flank but struggled to provide much of a spark. He did manage to create one key pass which showed some intent. However, he was often on the back foot defending. From our perspective, he was diligent but ultimately couldn't impact the game in the final third before being subbed.

Midfielders

Renars Varslavans - 7.0: Latvia's best outfield player by a mile. He was a bright spot in an otherwise toothless attack. He was unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork with one of his three shots. He also created a chance and was tidy in possession. What stood out was his willingness to take players on and try to make something happen.

Janis Ikaunieks - 5.5: A very quiet and ineffective 45 minutes. He barely got on the ball and struggled to get into the game at all. From our perspective, the match just passed him by. His substitution at halftime was no surprise, as the team needed more energy and creativity from the midfield.

Dmitrijs Zelenkovs - 6.5: A solid, battling performance in the middle of the park. He recovered the ball seven times and made some key interceptions. He was a workhorse, trying to break up Serbia's rhythm. His passing was decent, but he was mostly occupied with defensive duties. A commendable effort.

Aleksejs Saveljevs - 5.0: A first half to forget. He picked up a yellow card and was dribbled past three times. He lost all of his duels which is a terrible statistic for a midfielder. We noticed he looked completely off the pace. It was a relief for his team when he was hooked at halftime.

Forwards

Vladislavs Gutkovskis - 6.0: It was a thankless task for the lone striker. He was isolated for most of the match, feeding on scraps. What stood out to us was his physical effort, drawing three fouls to give his defenders a breather. He offered very little goal threat but you can't fault his work rate. He fought a lonely battle upfront.

Substitutes

Dario Sits - 6.0: Came on at halftime and showed some energy but couldn't change the game's flow.

Deniss Melniks - 6.0: Added fresh legs to the defence.

Lukass Vapne - 6.0: Tried to get involved but had little impact.

Bruno Melnis - N/A.

Roberts Savalnieks - N/A.

Manager

P. Nicolato - 6.0: His game plan was clear: defend deep and frustrate Serbia. For large parts of the game, it worked. The team was organized and resilient. However, there was a complete lack of attacking ambition. The substitutions didn't change the dynamic of the match. A solid defensive setup but no plan B.

Serbia Player Ratings vs Latvia

Here are Serbia Player Ratings vs Latvia

Goalkeeper

Djordje Petrovic - 7.0: A relatively quiet night for the Serbian keeper, but he did what was required. He made two saves, both from inside the box, to keep his clean sheet intact. What we noticed was his confident handling and distribution. He wasn't tested much, but he was alert and composed when called upon. A professional display.

Defenders

Strahinja Pavlović - 9.0: An absolutely colossal performance. Our man of the match, without a doubt. He was dominant defensively, winning six of his seven duels. But it was his contribution going forward that was exceptional. He completed three dribbles, created two chances, and had a 95% pass accuracy. A complete modern-day defender's performance. He was everywhere.

Nikola Milenković - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, game from the captain. His passing was near-perfect, which helped Serbia control the tempo. However, we were surprised to see him win only one of his four duels. He was solid positionally but seemed to struggle in physical contests. A decent outing but not his best.

Milos Veljkovic - 7.0: A very solid and reliable presence at the back. He made five clearances and an interception, reading the game well. His passing out from the back was also a feature of his game. He did commit four fouls, showing his aggressive side. Overall, a strong defensive performance that helped secure the clean sheet.

Midfielders

Saša Lukić - 7.5: He was excellent in the time he was on the pitch. Lukic controlled the midfield battle, winning six of his eight duels. He was everywhere, breaking up play and starting attacks. His passing was crisp and incisive. His substitution seemed to be about managing his yellow card, as he was a key performer.

Filip Kostić - 8.0: The creative hub of the team. To create six chances in a single game is outstanding. His delivery from the left wing was a constant menace to the Latvian defence. He was relentless in his attacking play. The only slight criticism is that his final product sometimes lacked a finishing touch from his teammates. A superb creative display.

Andrija Zivkovic - 7.5: A very lively and effective performance on the opposite flank. He created two chances and was a constant threat with his movement and passing. He also tracked back well, making a tackle and two interceptions. From our perspective, his all-around game was crucial to Serbia's dominance. A very good showing.

Ivan Ilić - 7.0: A tidy and intelligent performance in midfield. He kept the ball moving with 97% pass accuracy and recovered the ball eight times. He provided a great balance between defence and attack. He wasn't spectacular, but he was incredibly effective in his role. The engine room of the team.

Aleksandar Katai - 7.0: He made the most decisive contribution of the game with his assist for the goal. It was a moment of quality that unlocked the Latvian defence. He was a threat in the first half before being substituted. A short but very sweet performance.

Forwards

Luka Jović - 6.5: A frustrating night for the striker. He got into great positions and had five shots, but his finishing was off. He missed a couple of clear headers and seemed to lack conviction in front of goal. We noticed his movement was good, but a striker of his quality should have scored. He'll be disappointed.

Dušan Vlahović - 8.5: The match-winner. His goal was a moment of pure class, a brilliant strike from distance. Beyond the goal, he was a real handful for the defenders. He had five shots, completed four dribbles, and was a constant threat. He carried the attack and delivered the crucial moment. A top performance.

Substitutes

Lazar Samardzic - 6.5: Looked bright when he came on.

Nemanja Gudelj - 6.0: Helped shore up the midfield to see out the win.

Nemanja Maksimovic - N/A.

Aleksa Terzic - N/A.

Aleksandar Mitrovic - N/A.

Manager

D. Stojković - 7.0: His team got the job done, which is the most important thing. The tactical setup allowed his creative players to flourish and dominate the game. However, he will surely be concerned about the team's wastefulness in front of goal. Securing the win is a positive, but he'll demand more ruthlessness in the future.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Pavlovic