The weather, the change of venue, the physical game of Montenegro, and what looked like a referee straight out of the homer ‘quote book’ couldn’t take this game away from Wales. Cheered on by a superb away support Wales are now joint top of their Nations League group (B4)

Wales had a start to the game they could only dream about when Kieffer Moore fired home his sides first goal after forty odd seconds of this game. Not as quick as Wales scored after fifteen seconds in Azerbaijan in 2003, however in these conditions it certainly settled the nerves. Mention has to be made of the pitch and indeed the ground which was a late change of venue after the National Stadium in Podgorica was completely unplayable. The pitch managed to soak up hours of rain due to an electrical storm but still at times looked a throwback to many years gone by.

Moore took his goal well after a nice rebound which fell into his path, but still needed the Montenegro post to ensure the lead was taken. The delight at that goal was doubled when minutes later Harry Wilson took on a shot from some thirty yards which flew in to the left hand corner of keeper Mijatovic’s net. The score was two nil without the hosts even tickling the Wales half of the pitch.

With the conditions worsening and the home crowd making the most of the few numbers they had with vociferous support this game was about to take off. The challenges from the Montenegrin players got a bit tasty, but it was only a starter for a first half that really was compelling. The home side had numerous chances, and as we covered in our pre match report old campaigner Stevan Jovetić (above) was pulling the strings. Without a club after leaving Olympiacos in the summer he was the stand out player for the home side. The niggly moments continued throughout the first half with Wales failing to make the best of their chances and the home side too. However, when Jovetić hit a long shot from the half way line debutant Karl Darlow in the Wales goal could only watch it bounce off the bar.

Montenegro continued to breeze into the game, their precise passing something to savour at times.

The second half saw Montenegro have far more of the ball, and more of their excellent passing to both wings. The driving rain continued, the ball stuck in places it generally wouldn’t and an excitable Bellamy looked like a drowned rat on the touchline. Montenegro hit the post from twenty odd yards with an effort from Vladimir Jovovic, and Wales were scrambling the ball away far more than they would have wanted. Nikola Krstovic and Jovetic then tested Darlow who did well to keep them out before Ben Davies did even better to clear another attempt from Driton Camaj off the line. The pressure finally paid off with more accurate passing out to the wings which saw Camaj slide home after great work from Krstovic. Williams tried to get back and in his effort to do so he also hit the back of the net.

Moore had a glorious chance to put the tie beyond doubt and he won’t want to see that again for a while. All he had to do was steer the ball into the back of the net. The table looks good this evening as does the start Craig Bellamy has made as Wales, head coach.

🇲🇪 Montenegro: Mijatovic; Marusic (M.Vukcevic 74), Rubezic, Sipcic, A.Vukcevic; Brnovic (Osmaijic 70), V.Jovovic, Camaj, S.Jovetic (c) (Erakovic 74), N.Krstovic; Mugosa (Bakic 70)

Subs: Petkovic, Nikic, Radunovic, Tuci, I.Vukotic, Perisic, Dukanovic, M.Vukotic

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales: Darlow; 7 Mepham, 6 Rodon, 7 B.Davies; 8 Roberts 6 (Johnson 43), 6 Cooper 6 (J.James 60), 6 Ampadu, 6 N.Williams; 6 Koumas 6 (Thomas 46), 7 Moore 6 (Ramsey 80), 6 Wilson 7 (Harris 80) 6

Subs: Ward, A.Davies, Cabango, Beck, Colwill, Sheehan

Photographs licensed from Reuters, ID: tag:reuters.com,2024:newsml_UP1EK991GE3R8:767342343, ID tag:reuters.com,2024:newsml_UP1EK991KE8TI:1891863703, ID: tag:reuters.com,2024:newsml_UP1EK991KWNTS:1979301791, ID: tag:reuters.com,2024:newsml_UP1EK991HXBSC:607971108 : Swansea Independent or Open Source

Swansea City Polls