Fifth place in the first half of the season in the First League, placement in the semi-finals of the Cup - Podgorica definitely exceeded expectations in its debut season in the elite ranks of Montenegrin football.
Vojislav Pejović's team is going on a break after an excellent series at the end of 2019. They have not lost in the last four games in the championship (two wins and a draw each), and they confirmed an excellent moment two days ago in the second leg of the Cup quarter-final against Iskra - they drew 1:1 in Golubovci (Saleta Kordić's goal in stoppage time) and passed after 0:0 in Leškopolje.
When everything is added up, it could hardly have been better for the team that until this summer was called Mladost Lješkopolje.
- Before the beginning of the season, the goal was to stay in the league, we are well on our way to doing that. We had a very good half-season, even though we changed a lot of players this summer. It took time to fit it all in, that's why the results at the beginning were not what we expected them to be, but later it looked better. Good games were followed by results - said Podgorica midfielder Jovan Vujović.
After 19 rounds, Podgorica has 26 points, two less than the fourth-placed Zeta, and minus six points compared to Iskra. The third place, therefore, is not far after Iskra failed in the finish and tied three defeats.
- I think we can fight for third place in the rest of the season. I also believe that we will be stronger in the spring, although we do not need that kind of pressure, nor do we have it. Above all, we are thinking about survival, and for something more, we have to wait for a chance and use it if it presents itself - said the 23-year-old football player.
The debutant in the CFL is the first win of the 2018/19 season. achieved only in the fifth round and it was the game that turned the half-season. It all happened on August 24 in Nikšić when Podgorica defeated the current champion Sutjeska 2:1. It was Vujović who scored the leading goal at the stadium near Bistrica.
- Looking from this time distance, I think that match changed a lot. As debutants in the league, we encountered problems at the start of the season, and then we defeated Sutjeska. In a way, we were then convinced of our own quality. After that we played some really good games. The results were not always the best, but we can be satisfied - says the player who arrived in Lješkopolje this summer from Lovcen.
The cup is certainly an easier way to Europe than the championship. Besides Podgorica, Budućnost, Sutjeska and Petrovac are in the semi-finals.
- We dream of going on the international stage - it is less important whether through the Cup or the championship. We are in the semi-finals of the Cup, but it is too early to talk about ambitions until we know the name of the next opponent. Now, however, we are going on a well-deserved break, we will welcome spring ready for a new fight - concluded Vujović.
5 goals were scored by Jovan Vujović in the first part of the season and he is the best scorer of Podgorica. He was the scorer in the victories over Rudar, Koma and Sutjeska, and he also scored in the defeat against Rudar, and in the draw with Grblje
1:1 the result is the last three games played by Podgorica in the championship and the Cup. In the championship, they drew with Koma and Petrovac, while in the Cup, that result was enough to eliminate Iskra and advance to the semi-finals.
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