Podgorica made history last week - it played its first European match and registered its first European victory. In those 90 minutes, did she take off the pressure that was obvious?
She celebrated against the Albanian side Ljači with a score of 1:0, gaining some stock before the second leg in which she faces another difficult task on the way to the second round of qualification for the League of Conferences.
- Ljači showed that it is a very good team, that it can be tricky and that it is not by chance that it is on the European stage. We had less than a month to prepare, and the team was significantly changed, which was an aggravating circumstance before the European premiere. In the end, the best of all was the result and we are satisfied with it - said midfielder Anđelko Jovanović.
Penalties played a key role in the match at the DG Arena - Jovan Vujović scored from the penalty spot in the 57th minute after a foul on Jovanović, and in the 94th minute the goalkeeper of the team from Lješkopolje, Nikola Ivezić, saved Mentor Mazrekaj's shot. And thus significantly increased the chances of Podgorica to pass the first hurdle on the international stage.
- I think we answered the challenge in the right way. We were motivated and it's good that we won, because every triumph is an additional plus for Montenegrin football - said Jovanović.
The Albanians, however, convinced everyone that they have quality, and with the away goal rule being abolished, a 1:0 victory is not quite as big a deal as it was before.
- We had a few days to prepare for the rematch. Now we know our opponent better and I believe we are more prepared than before the first duel. In Elbasan, we certainly don't have a simple task waiting for us, but an opponent who knows what he wants, but we know it too. Now the motive is even greater, we are 90 minutes away from going to the next round and we will do our best to continue to make good results - said Jovanović.
If they eliminate Ljaci, Podgorica will meet with Romanian Craiova.
- At this moment, there are no calculations, nor are we thinking about the Romanians. That's how we got into the double match with Ljači. We are focused on the first next game. We are playing with the strongest team and we did not come to Elbasan to calculate and defend the advantage from Podgorica. We will act as if the first match ended 0:0, because we want to stay on the European stage - concluded Jovanović.
The match at "Elbasan Arena" starts at 20:XNUMX.
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