Coach Mirko Vučinić, as he announced, made as many as nine changes compared to the match with Andorra. The first half brought an excellent performance from Montenegro, especially in attack – the passing game was fluid, the attacks were efficient, and the rival's net was shaken twice. However, a poor defensive line and a disastrous start to the second half cost our team a better result.
Thus, even on the fourth attempt, Montenegro failed to defeat Slovenia, which recorded its first triumph after eight matches and almost nine months.
The first real chance came in the 15th minute. Driton Camaj crossed brilliantly from the right, and Adam Marušić headed the ball in, but Igor Vekić made a fantastic save. Nikola Krstović was also close, but he failed to put the ball into the net.
Just six minutes later, we took the deserved lead. Marko Janković took a corner kick from the right, and Osmajić reacted brilliantly at the near post and headed past Igor Vekić.
After that, the guests played a bit more offensively and threatened twice through Timi Elšnik and Žan Vipotnik, but without much danger to Danijel Petković's goal. On the other side, after a nice team action, Sead Hakšabanović was blocked at the last minute.
And then in the 41st minute Slovenia equalized. We lost the ball in midfield, a counterattack by the "Zmajček" followed, and with a lot of luck the ball reached Vipotnik, who bypassed Danijel Petković and routinely hit an empty net.
The guests' joy lasted only three minutes. Janković did everything brilliantly, starting from the middle of the field, then dribbling through his legs to free himself from Elšnik, and then passing into the space for Osmajić, who masterfully crossed Vekić and scored the second goal, while midfielder Karabag provided the second assist. This is Osmajić's seventh goal for the national team, and the third in just four days, as he also scored against Andorra "from the bench".
At halftime, the audience greeted our cadets who had earned a historic berth in the European and World Championships.
Practically "from the locker room", Slovenia equalized again in the 47th minute. Excellent team action, which was converted into a goal by Danijel Šturm. Our defense reacted poorly again.
In the 54th minute, we could have quickly regained the lead, but Nikola Krstović's header was brilliantly stopped by Vekić.
Just 120 seconds later, a penalty arrived and a complete turnaround. Jost Urbančić passed down the left side, Osmajić failed to stop him, and Vipotnik was left alone at the far post, who had no difficulty in hitting the unguarded net again from close range to make the final score 3:2.
Shortly after, we had two chances in one attack to equalize. First, Osmajić almost missed, and then Krstović caught a volley in the continuation of the action, but the ball went far wide of the goal.
The Atalanta striker had another chance in the 73rd minute. Captain Bijol made a mistake in the dangerous zone, Krstović followed everything, shot from the run, but again the Vejle goalkeeper saved, who duly replaced Jan Oblak, and it would turn out to be the last attempt to avoid defeat...
Almost all statistical parameters were on our side, but that is little consolation, because in the end we look at the scoreboard and see another failure.
The match was also watched live from the stands of the stadium under Gorica by the former head coach of Serbia, Dragan Piksi Stojković, accompanied by the first man of our federation, Dejan Savićević.
Već u junu naš nacionalni tim očekuju još dvije prijateljske utakmice, dok će na jesen doći prvi pravi takmičarski izazov – Liga nacija. Ukoliko osvojimo prvo mjesto u grupi 2 C divizije, u konkurenciji Jermenije, Kipra i Letonije, osguraćemo baraž za EURO 2028 i biti korak bliže dugo sanjanom velikom takmičenju.
End MONTENEGRO – SLOVENIA 2:3
Osmajić 21, 44 – Vipotnik 41, 56, Šturm 47
SWORD FLOW:
End of the match. Slovenia defeated Montenegro after a comeback (3:2).
90′ Four minutes of stoppage time, so much hope that we can at least avoid defeat.
88′ It was dangerous in our penalty area, but somehow we managed to defend ourselves.
87′ Krstović passed the ball to Vukotić, who took the first shot, but it was harmless.
83′ Triple change in our squad – Balša Sekulić replaces Bulatović, and Stefan Lončar comes in for the excellent Marko Janković who registered two assists today. Milan Roganović replaces Adam Marušić.
80′ Ten minutes left in the game, plus injury time.
75′ Substitution in Slovenia – double scorer Vipotnik is replaced by Andraš Šporar.
73′ Another opportunity for Krstović – after a mistake by captain Bijol, the Atalanta striker shot strongly from about 18 meters, but again the phenomenal Vekić saved today.
65′ A new chance for our national team – Osmajić tried again after Janković's cross, but Vekić saved again. The Preston striker was not allowed to score a hat-trick.
62′ New change in our squad – Milan Vukotić replaces Camaj.
60′ We could have equalized, but Osmajić almost missed after Camaj's cross. In the continuation of the action, Krstović caught a volley from the first, but the ball went far past the post.
56′ TURNOVER! Slovenia is undergoing a complete turnaroundJost Urbančić passed down the left flank and employed Vipotnik, who had no difficulty in hitting the unguarded net from a meter or two. Again, poor positioning of our defense.
54′ A great chance to quickly regain the lead. Andrija Vukčević made a great pass down the left side, crossed, and Krstović headed the ball in, but Vekić made another miraculous save.
51′ First substitution of the match – Miloš Brnović replaces Hakšabanović.
47′ GOAL! After just a minute and a half of play, the Slovenians equalized again. It was a great team effort on the right side and not exactly the best reaction from our defense, and the goal was scored by Danijel Šturm.
46′ The second half has begun.
HALF TIME: Montenegro leads Slovenia 2:1 after the opening 45 minutes. Good play by the "falcons", two goals by Osmajić and two assists by Janković. On the other hand, the scorer was Vipotnik who took advantage of Bulatović's mistake and scored for the equalizer, which lasted for a short time.
FIRST HALF:
44′ GOOO The guests protested loudly, believing that one of their players had been fouled in midfield, but the referee did not speak.
41′ GOAL! Slovenia equalizes – scorer Žan Vipotnik. Bulatović lost the ball in the dangerous zone, a counterattack ensued, which Vipotnik converted into a goal after the ball, with a lot of luck, reached him, and he bypassed Petković and routinely hit an empty net.
35′ Nice move by the "Falcons", but a Slovenian player intervened at the last moment in front of Sead Hakšabanović, who was preparing for a shot.
33′ The visitors are threatening again. After the break, the ball bounced to Žan Vipotnik who shot over the goal from the ground from about ten meters.
27′ It could have been dangerous, but Timi Elšnik headed the ball high over the bar from six or seven meters.
21′ GOOOLL! We're leading 1:0. Marko Janković took a corner kick from the right side, and Osmajić reacted brilliantly at the near post and headed past Vekić. Marušić's shot was blocked earlier, so we got a corner kick, from which we took the deserved lead. This is the Preston striker's sixth goal for the national team, his second in just three days, after he scored to confirm the victory against Andorra.
15′ The biggest chance so far in the match, and for our team. – Driton Camaj crossed brilliantly from the right, Adam Marušić tried to head it, but Igor Vekić made a fantastic save. Nikola Krstović was close, but he couldn't get it into the net.
10′ The tenth minute passes, without any major excitement so far.
6′ Almost a minute later, the guests responded, but Stefan Savić was in the right place.
5′ First danger of the match – Adam Marušić crossed from the right, and Milutin Osmajić shot past the keeper from five or six meters, but over the goal.
1′ The match has just started, and the match is being followed live from the stands of the stadium under Gorica by the former head coach of Serbia, Dragan Piksi Stojković, accompanied by the first man of our federation, Dejan Savićević.
17.49 This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams. Slovenia has won twice so far, while one match ended without a winner, so our players will try to record their first triumph over their neighbors on the last day of March, which is more reminiscent of January.
ANNOUNCEMENT
After the victory over Andorra four days ago and the farewell of Stefan Mugoša in grand style, the Montenegrin national football team welcomes the Slovenian national team today at 6 pm at the City Stadium in Podgorica.
The "Dragons" arrive weakened, without their biggest stars – goalkeeper Jan Oblak and striker Benjamin Šešek.
On the other hand, in relation to the match against Anodra, coach Mirko Vučinić will not be able to count on Stevan Jovetić and Stefan Milić due to injuries, as well as the aforementioned Mugoša, who has ended his national team career.
Boštjan Cezar's team was defeated three days ago in Budapest by Hungary (1:0), while their last triumph was in June last year against Bosnia and Herzegovina (2:1) in Celje.
As he announced at the press conference, Vučinić made nine changes compared to the match against Andorra, and will face Slovenia with the following 11: Petković (G) – Savić (C), Vujačić, A. Vukčević, Marušić – Camaj, Janković, Bulatović, Hakšabanović – Osmajić, Krstović.
Slovenia will play with: Vekić (G) – Drkušić, Bijol (C), Ratnik, Urbančić – Elšnik, Karničnik – Šturm, Svetlin, Horvat – Vipotnik.
See a more detailed match announcement and statement from our camp. HERE.
You can follow the match live via text broadcast on the RTV Podgorica Portal.
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