The football season in Montenegro is reaching its climax, and while the championship has already been decided, at least as far as the title race is concerned, the Cup is just beginning to unravel - today is the first leg of the Cup semi-finals. Three first-league teams (Petrovac, Mornar, Dečić), as well as Iskra as the only second-league team, will fight for a place in the grand final.
ISKRA WANTS A NEW SURPRISE, THE SAILOR IS WEAKEN BUT MOTIVATED
Iskra created a sensation by eliminating Buducnost in the quarterfinals, and today they will try to eliminate the third member of the elite (in the round of 2012 they were better than Otranto) and become only the third second division team to reach the Cup final in independent Montenegro, after Čelik in 2018 and Igalo in XNUMX.
However, Mornar has plans and ambitions, and after an unforgettable European summer, he wants his first major trophy.
- We have a very demanding two-match match against a young and extremely unpleasant team Iskra. They showed their quality when they eliminated two first-league teams in the previous two rounds. We reached the semi-finals with a lot of effort and a difficult path. Several important players are injured, and we are also without Zorić i Djordjevic the rest after the transfer window expires. The desire is to reach the final, and if we reach the final, it's one game and there are no favorites - says Baran coach Zoran Đurašković.
Iskra is the host in the first match at the FSCG Camp, the return match is in 14 days in Bar.
- We didn't pay much attention to who we would draw in the semi-final draw, because objectively speaking, we are outsiders against any of the teams, but we were also outsiders against Otranto and especially Buducnost, so we went through. We are moderately optimistic and I have faith and hope that we can make it to the final. We are playing well in the second half of the season, we are physically very well prepared and we will look for our chance, especially if the opponent has a 'bad day'. The Cup final has a special charm, I have felt it several times as a player - says the Iskra coach Milan Radulović.
DECIC WOULD LIKE A THIRD CHANCE, PETROVAC TO REPEAT 2009.
Petrovac will host Dečić in the first semi-final match. These are teams that have already faced the elite three times so far this season - Tuzani won twice (1:0 at home and away), while recently there was a draw in Petrovac (0:0).
The team from Petrovac, however, is in the best competitive condition for the Cup, as they are already looking forward to qualifying for Europe - through the championship, where they are certainly second in the standings.
Trainer Zdravko Dragićević says that the team has high ambitions:
"We are competitors, and since we have already reached the semi-finals, our goal is to win the Cup. We are facing a tough and uncertain match against an excellent opponent - the team of Dečić, but perhaps we are entering this match more relaxed because we have a good season behind us. Little things will decide. All the players are at our disposal, not counting Faust, who we have been without for a long time - says Dragićević, who as a player lifted the cup with Petrovčani, the only Cup trophy in independent Montenegro, back in 2009. Can he do it again as a coach?
Dečić, on the other hand, is looking to reach their third Cup final in the last five seasons. Advancing would be a kind of redemption for their poor performances in the championship this season.
- The ambition is certainly to reach the Cup final, we are aware of our qualities. We want to win every match. We expect a tough duel against Petrovac, which is a good team and deservedly ranks second in the league. The pitch will certainly be difficult to play on if it rains. I think the team that plays with more desire will advance to the final - said midfielder Dečića Andrej Bajović.
Both return matches are scheduled for April 30th.
Bonus video:
