Budućnosti's footballers fared well in Ohrid - the Montenegrin champion lost to Struga (1:0) in the first match of the second round of qualification for the League of Conferences, but has an active result before the rematch in Podgorica. And in the second leg, the game must be at a much higher level, if the "blues" want to be in a situation where they can hope for a place in the next round.
The Montenegrin champion disappointed again, in 90 minutes he did not kick into the goal frame and did not create a serious opportunity, unlike the host who can regret missed chances.
In the first half, the "Blues" had no solutions for the Struga attackers, led by the veteran, 36-year-old Ibraimi, who scored the only goal, after a cardinal mistake by Dakić.
The first half was dominated by Struga and Ibraimi, who threatened both from the left and from the right. Already in the seventh minute, the offensive player of the Macedonian team shot, but Adžić slipped in at the last moment and eliminated the danger.
Five minutes later, Pavličić reacted well after Radeski's shot from about 16 meters, and in the 21st minute Ibraimi hit the post.
The strikers of Struga were constantly a threat to the goal of Budućnost, in the 26th minute Bojka tried, and then in the 30th minute Struga took the lead. Dakić made a mistake, and Radeski employed Ibraimi, who beat Pavličić.
Ibraimi was not satisfied with one goal - he tried in the 34th minute, then a minute later after another mistake by Dakić, but Buducnosti's net was no longer shaken.
Already in the first half, the Budućnosti bench went for a change (the new coach Mladen Milinković could not lead the team, he was in the stands), midfielder Dašić came in instead of Dakić, and Sekulović played as a stopper.
The team from Podgorica stabilized to some extent in the continuation, but again they failed to do anything in front of the opponent's goal, nor to make any kind of action.
The second half started with a chance for Bojku, after a mistake by Dašić, and until the end of the match there was not much excitement.
In the break between the two halves, the players of Budućnosti had to report to the fans who had arrived in Ohrid. It doesn't happen often that players go to report to the fans at halftime...
The second leg is on Tuesday (21) in Podgorica. In European competitions, the away goal rule does not apply for the third season already, which is good for Milinković's team after such a defeat, but a lot of things will have to change in the Buducnosti game.
And that in just five days - the question is, does the Montenegrin champion have the quality to do it? The previous editions, from Iceland, through the defeat against Mladost DG at the start of the domestic championship, and up to Dašanje, do not give any reason for optimism.
Milinković, one gets the impression, will need a "magic wand" to pass, but as long as the game lasts, so does hope, and the footballers of Budućnost have to believe, but also deserve luck.
So far they haven't done that...
STRUGA - THE FUTURE 1:0
Ohrid - Stadium "Biljanini izvori". Referee: Artjom Kucin (Kazakhstan). Scorer: Ibrahimi in the 30th minute. Yellow cards: Bojku, Tairi, Ibraimi (Struga), Brnović, Gašević, Grbić (Buducnost).
Struga: Kuševski - Neziri, Radić, Krivanjeva, Malići (85. Ukpa), Bojka, Tairi (46. Kasami), Mazrekaj (79. Zguro) - Šabani, Ibraimi (79. Jarović), Radeski (85. Jahja).
Future: Pavličić - Ignjatović, Dakić (38. Dašić 38), Vl. Adžić, Gašević - Mirković, Brnović (90+5. Va. Adžić), Sekulović - Grbić (71. Novović), Almeida, Sekulić (71. Perišić)
Bonus video:
