Osmajić and Đukanović Rally Montenegro Past Liechtenstein as Montenegrins Snap Skid in Second-Half Comeback

For seventy minutes on a chill October evening at a venue still shrouded in anonymity, it appeared Montenegro’s recent sorrows would persist. Trailing a spirited Liechtenstein side, and coming off a brutal trio of qualifying defeats, the Montenegrins seemed to be sinking deeper into malaise. But two late flashes of class from Milutin Osmajić and Viktor Đukanović turned the tide, transforming a moribund friendly into a precious 2-1 victory—one that may offer the first glimmer of redemption for a battered squad.

Montenegro entered Monday’s international friendly with wounds still raw. Their last three outings—a 0-4 drubbing in the Faroe Islands, a matching four-goal humiliation in Croatia, and a home defeat to the Czech Republic—had sent confidence plummeting. They were searching not just for a result, but for an identity and an anchor, eager to halt a slide that threatened to define their autumn.

Instead, what awaited manager and players alike was an unexpected test of nerve. Liechtenstein, themselves battered by losses of 0-4, 0-5, and 0-6 in World Cup qualification play, were thought to be little more than willing sparring partners. Yet football’s smallest nations are rarely short on pride or endeavor, and for much of the night it was the men in blue who played with conviction.

The contest’s opening half was played at a measured tempo, Montenegro seeking to reestablish control through ball retention and short, probing passes. But just as a sense of order seemed to settle, Liechtenstein struck with a stunning counterpunch. In the 27th minute, a quick transition left the Montenegrin defense stretched and the Liechtenstein forward—whose name may not soon be forgotten in Vaduz—finished coolly, slipping the ball past a scrambling Montenegrin goalkeeper. As the visitors wheeled away in disbelief, Montenegro’s heads hung heavy, the echoes of recent defeats suddenly roaring back to full volume.

Halftime arrived with the hosts behind and the crowd restless. Managerial adjustments followed, but for much of the second half, the equalizer proved elusive. Montenegro controlled territory and stretched the Liechtenstein defense, but a final ball or decisive touch was always lacking. With each passing minute, frustration mounted—and so too did the specter of another ignominious result.

Yet football’s drama unfolds in its capacity for sudden transformation. In the 74th minute, the breakthrough finally came. A clever sequence on the edge of the area saw Milutin Osmajić find just enough space to turn and rifle a low drive into the net. Relief was palpable, not just among players but in the stands; Montenegro had life.

Liechtenstein, momentarily rattled, regrouped to defend gamely, but the barrage had begun. With their energy renewed and a sense of belief flickering, Montenegro pressed higher. Then, in the 87th minute, Viktor Đukanović—a symbol of the nation’s emerging generation—rewarded the pressure. Latching onto a well-weighted pass, he calmly slotted home the winner, his composure belying the stakes. The celebration was not merely for three points, nor even for pride; it was a celebration of exhalation, a team pulling itself from the quicksand.

There were no red cards—only the hard tackles and occasional tempers of a contest that came to mean far more than its billing suggested. The final whistle drew a chorus of relieved cheers from the Montenegrin faithful and a mix of pride and regret from their guests, who had come so close to a rare scalp.

In the context of either side’s campaign, the match was unlikely to alter qualifying standings or transform destinies. Montenegro, victim to their own World Cup qualification woes, remain adrift in their group, their hopes for the tournament in serious jeopardy. Liechtenstein’s prospects, perennially limited by resources and depth, likewise appear unchanged by the defeat. But for both, the friendly served as something more elemental—a touchstone for resolve, an opportunity to reclaim competitive spirit away from qualification’s unforgiving math.

Montenegro’s narrow victory gave them cause to breathe again. For one night, the narrative shifted: from collapse to comeback, from futility to resilience. And though Liechtenstein left empty-handed, their display, especially in a first half marked by discipline and opportunism, offered hope that future fixtures may yet yield brighter days.

As qualification resumes, Montenegro must now harness this momentum, searching for lessons in both their sluggish start and stirring finish. Should Osmajić and Đukanović continue to seize such moments, the embers of a turnaround may yet catch. Liechtenstein, meanwhile, will look to bottle the spirit shown here, aiming for progress measured in resolve as much as in results. On a night that threatened to echo recent traumas, Montenegro instead found the thin edge of relief—a slender win, but perhaps a weighty turning point.