Euro 2012 qualifier; Montenegro 1-0 Wales - full time report
Montenegro beat Wales 1-0 in a fiercely contested Euro 2012 qualifier. The final score may not give the true picture of what transpired on the pitch, but what matters is that Wales could not get a goal and now would have to look back at the missed opportunities.
The first half was dominated by Motenegro, and Elsad Zverotic was the one who got the first real glimpse at the Welsh goal. Radomir Djalovic also looked in good touch; he tested the Wales defence and the goalkeeper with couple of stunning strikes early on. Montenegro had made it clear that John Toshack's side were in for a tough night.
Wales did have their share of attacks in the first half; Gareth Bale was the most influential player for them. The Tottenham man was energetic and on the end of most of Wales attacks. Bale made an excellent run on the left flank from Wales, but none of the front men were able to make use of the ball in the box.
Motenegro however were the ones who got close to the goal in the first half when, Savo Pavicevic used his pace to create space on the right flank. He sent in an inch perfect cross for Mirko Vucinic who was completely unmarked in the 6 yard box, but the striker could not direct his header and it wet hopelessly wide. Branko Boskovic also unleashed a fierce shot from distance but Wayne Hennessey dived to his right and managed to parry it away.
However the relentless pressure from the home side earned them the reward. Mirko Vucinic, made his way past James Collins, and then keeper Wayne Hennessey made it a bit easy for him by diving in too early. The Montenegro midfielder curled it in off the left post to make it 1-0.
The 2nd half started well for the away side, Gareth Bale tried his luck with one 22 yards out for Wales, but it flew low and wide of the far post.
Moments later there was a cracking block from Ashley Williams in the Wales defence - as he flung himself in front of Radmoir Djalovic's goal bound shot 12 yards out. Montenegro were on top again.
10 minutes into the 2nd half, there was a nasty incident in Podgorica as Wales centre-back James Collins received a hammer blow to the side of his head courtesy of the elbow of Miodrag Dzudovic. The Montenegran was probably a touch lucky to stay on for that but no such luck for Collins, who was taken off and replaced by Craig Morgan.
Following the substitution, twice in a minute the Welsh captain had a chance to get his side back on level terms, but twice he was wasteful. On the first occasion Craig Bellamy probably should have passed to an unmarked Simon Church only to see his shot saved, while from the ensuing corner he headed straight at keeper Mladen Bozovic from six yards.
Wales were getting closer and closer; Gareth Bale swung over one of those sumptuous left-wing crosses of his and Simon Church crashed a header against the Montenegro crossbar with Mladen Bozovic beaten. It was very unlucky for the away side, but the score remained 1-0.
It was absolute heartbreak for John Toshack's boys just a minute later. They produced a cracking move as Rob Earnshaw sent Craig Bellamy away down the left and from Bellamy's centre Earnshaw's 18-yard shot produced a brilliant low save from Mladen Bozovic. Simon Church promptly slammed home the rebound, only Church was standing about three yards offside when Earnshaw shot, so it did not count. Into five minutes of stoppage time.
Finally the game ended 1-0 in favour of Montenegro, Wales believed they deserved better but in the end its the goals that count and they will need to work hard on the shortcomings in the next game.
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