From the special reporter "Vijesti"
At Gibraltar, the southernmost point of Europe, Montenegro avoided the lowest point.
After one of their worst series of results, a shipwreck in the Faroe Islands, they fall to the penultimate position in the group, and a victory against the 200th team on the FIFA list comes as encouragement: Gibraltar - Montenegro 1:2.
Mirko Vučinić's team demonstrated a great difference in class compared to their opponents, especially in the second half of the first half, after they shockingly conceded a goal, but in the rest of the game, and in the final, it became clear what it means when a team is in a bad streak, without routine and self-confidence.
Montenegro did not score a third goal, did not continue in the rhythm of the first half, and then, of course, risked that some "stray bullet" would not find its way into the net. Fortunately, it did not, and the "falcons" await Croatia with a victory on Monday, in the last match of the group.
SHOCK AND TURNOVER IN THE TORMENTAL FIRST PART
Vučinić started with the expected team in the announced 4-4-2, without the absent leader of defense (Savić) and leader of attack (Jovetić), but also with a complete, and seemingly well-organized midfield.
Bulatović, Janković, Vukotić and Adžić. The impression is that we haven't had such a balanced environment for a long time, a combination of technical and racing qualities. I guess it's also a model for the next qualifications.
While the Europa Point stadium in the southernmost point of Europe was drenched in heavy rain and the wind blew from both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Montenegro set out for the victory it desperately needed after probably its worst series so far - four consecutive defeats, goal difference 0:12.
Very quickly it was "increased" to 0:13, after an early shock that the local guys from Gibraltar gave our team. Montenegro did not have any great chances in the first 20 minutes, they circled around the penalty area, but at no point did it look like the home team could score.
However, they say that "when it rains, it pours" - a lightning-fast counterattack by Gibraltar followed and Nikić was taking the ball out of the net - he was beaten by Jesop, the striker of Lincoln Red Imps, a team that, incidentally, is playing in the group stage of the Conference League.
It felt like a repeat of the Faroe Islands (but not that!) wind, rain, a plastic surface as fast as ice, with obvious players being too loose, it seemed like everything, absolutely everything, was conspiring against the Montenegrin team.
Even when just a minute later, after an almost six-minute VAR check, a penalty awarded for a foul on Adžić was overturned... It was time for panic, but the Montenegrin players did not let it overcome them.
What followed was a great 15 minutes in which the difference in quality between the two teams was evident. In that period, in addition to the cancelled penalty, our team had two great chances, and then scored two goals. Adžić headed it, then Krstović, alone against the goalkeeper - what couldn't be done from the field, could be done from the break.
In the 33rd minute, Adžić cleverly shot a free kick diagonally from the left side - on the ground, the ball gained acceleration and was uncatchable for goalkeeper Hankins. Also a member of the Lincoln Red Imps, the team that held Rijeka to a 1-1 draw at the same stadium just seven days ago.
Nine minutes later, VAR technology got lucky, Greek referee Papaetru only saw on video how Janković was brought down by a wrestling move. Krstović scored with a lot of luck, because Henkins had the ball in his hand - the Atalanta striker's first goal in the national team's jersey in exactly a year, since the Turkey game in November 2024.
COULD HAVE BEEN MORE CONVINCING AT THE END
In the rest of the game, Montenegro did not play in the rhythm of the first half, did not create too many, few dangerous situations, attempts, only one good chance to finish (Osmajić).
Vučinić changed the team's physiognomy with substitutions, with the scorers Krstović and Adžić coming off, Janković also coming off, Radunović also coming off at halftime, Šipčić also getting injured, and Perović, Brnović, Lončar, Rubežić and Đukanović were on the field in the lineup that ultimately preserved the victory.
Viktor Đukanović deserved the goal in stoppage time, after a great shot, Osmajić deserved it too, Montenegro deserved a more convincing victory, but after all - even this minimal one is worth it.
GIBRALTAR - MONTENEGRO 1:2 (1:2)
Gibraltar - "Europa Point" Stadium. Attendance: 1.500. Referee: Papapetrou (Greece). Scorers: Zesop in the 20th minute for Gibraltar, Adžić in the 33rd and Krstović (penalty) in the 42nd minute for Montenegro. Yellow cards: Borge, Anesli (Gibraltar), Tući (Montenegro).
Gibraltar: Henkins - Joly, Ronan (81. Bartolo), Lopez, Jesop (57. Richards) - Torill (56. Bent), Annesley (74. Olivero), Mauro - Pozo, Scanlon - Borge (57. Morgan).
Montenegro: Nikić - Marušić, Tući, Šipčić (77. Rubežić), Radunović (46. Perović) - Bulatović, Janković (74. Brnović), Adžić (66. Lončar), Vukotic - Krstović (74. Djukanović), Osmajić.
Bonus video:
