Türkiye defeats Montenegro 1-0 in UEFA Nations League match

Türkiye secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Montenegro in their third match of the UEFA Nations League B League, Group 4, on Saturday. The game took place in Samsun, with Irfan Can Kahveci’s 69th-minute goal proving decisive.

Montenegro’s defense held firm for much of the match, but Türkiye, who dominated possession and created numerous opportunities, finally broke through in the second half. Substitute Kenan Yildiz’s shot struck the post, and Kahveci was there to tap in the rebound, giving Türkiye the lead.

Despite early chances from Türkiye’s Arda Guler and Orkun Kokcu, both of whom came close to scoring, Montenegro’s goalkeeper Nikic kept the game scoreless until Kahveci’s goal. Montenegro had their own opportunity to score in the 63rd minute, when Osmanjic’s powerful strike was saved by goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.

The match was highly competitive, with both sides receiving multiple yellow cards. Türkiye’s Arda Guler, Kaan Ayhan, and Orkun Kokcu were cautioned, while Montenegro’s Brnovic and Osmajic also received bookings.

After the game, Montenegro’s head coach Robert Prosinecki acknowledged Türkiye’s superiority, stating, “This group’s favorite is Türkiye, and I’m sure they will advance.” He added that while his team had a few chances, Türkiye dominated most of the game. “We had two opportunities, but overall it was a very enjoyable match. Congratulations to Türkiye on their victory,” Prosinecki said.

Montenegro remains winless in the group after suffering three straight losses, with their next challenge coming against Wales. “We need to focus on the Wales game now,” Prosinecki said.

Türkiye’s head coach Vincenzo Montella praised his team’s performance. “We knew Montenegro was a team that defends well and stays compact. Despite that, we had 29 shots and deserved to win,” he said at the post-match press conference. Montella highlighted the importance of Türkiye’s continued dominance, even after scoring the match-winning goal. “We dominated the game and kept creating chances after scoring.”

Looking ahead, Montella emphasized the need for improvement in specific areas, such as the quality of crosses into the box. “We can improve the quality of our deliveries into the box. Our team’s overall quality is improving, and as this continues, it will become more challenging to select the starting lineup,” he remarked.

Montella also credited the passionate atmosphere in Samsun for energizing the team. “The atmosphere in Samsun was magnificent. The fans didn’t stop cheering before or after the game, and we felt their support throughout. We won this for them,” he said.

With this victory, Türkiye now has two wins and one draw in the group, positioning themselves as strong contenders to advance in the UEFA Nations League.