Craig Bellamy and the hundreds of Cymru supporters who travelled to Montenegro will not soon forget this match. In the small city of Niksic, at a modest stadium with only two stands—one completely exposed to the elements—Bellamy achieved his first win as Cymru manager.
The match, originally scheduled to take place in Podgorica, was moved to Niksic just a fortnight before, due to concerns from UEFA about the pitch in the capital. The Niksic surface, usually reserved for Montenegro Under-21 matches, faced a tough test, especially following the biblical rainstorms that had caused local power cuts. By half-time, the pitch had deteriorated, resembling more of an obstacle course than a football field.
Despite the conditions, Cymru made an explosive start. Kieffer Moore struck within 38 seconds, and less than two minutes later, Harry Wilson added a superb second from about 25 yards out. Although puddles littered the pitch, Driton Camaj’s 73rd-minute goal for Montenegro did little to dampen spirits. However, the victory was not without its challenges.
“It was the hardest, toughest conditions,” said Bellamy, who was soaked just minutes into the game. “It just didn’t let up. I didn’t plan for that in Montenegro in early September… the conditions didn’t allow for football; it was just impossible. We had to battle it out, and this group has that fight in them. We had to dig in.”
The Montenegro players appeared to be emotionally affected by a poignant minute’s applause for their former goalkeeper, Matija Sarkic, who tragically passed away at 26 in June. The former Millwall goalkeeper’s death weighed heavily on the hosts, who struggled at the start but soon rallied. Neco Williams nearly made it 3-0 for Cymru after the half-hour mark, but his poor touch squandered a one-on-one opportunity. Cymru were fortunate not to concede by half-time, with Nikola Krstovic sending a shot wide after a dangerous cross from Stefan Mugosa. The visitors also survived a strong penalty appeal when Stevan Jovetic’s header struck Ben Davies’s right arm, and Davies later made a brilliant goalline clearance following a double save by debutant goalkeeper Karl Darlow. Jovetic, the former Manchester City striker, even hit the crossbar with an audacious effort from inside his own half.
Cymru had further chances to extend their lead, with Moore missing a golden opportunity from three yards out on 66 minutes, hitting the post in frustration after scooping the ball over the bar. Neco Williams had another chance earlier, but by then Cymru were beginning to drop off. First-half injuries to Connor Roberts and Lewis Koumas, who was making his first competitive start, disrupted their rhythm. “A lot went on,” admitted Bellamy, who also described a painful bus journey from the capital. “Because of the conditions, part of me early on was like: ‘This game could get called off.’”
Montenegro continued to find gaps in the defence, with Vladimir Jovovic hitting the post from distance and Darlow making a superb save from Jovetic. Eventually, Montenegro got their reward when Krstovic squared for Camaj to score from close range. Despite the late pressure, Cymru held on to register their first victory under Bellamy’s leadership.
Reflecting on the match, Bellamy said, “What did I make of it? Wet!” His side has now secured four points from their opening two Nations League matches and will next face Iceland in Reykjavik in October. “It’s been a really good week,” Bellamy added. “I’m a little bit sad because they’re [the players] going [back to their clubs] now, so I won’t see them for a few weeks. I don’t want them to go… that’s how much I’ve enjoyed working with them. I hope they feel the same way.”
