Turkey Stumbles in Montenegro: Forced into Play-Off for League A Promotion

The Turkish National Team missed a golden opportunity to secure promotion to UEFA Nations League A after suffering a 3-1 defeat against Montenegro in their final Group 4 match of League B. Combined with Wales’ 4-1 victory over Iceland, Turkey finished second in the group and will now have to compete in a play-off for promotion to League A.

Match Summary

• Montenegro 3–1 Turkey
  • Goals:
    • Montenegro: Nikola Krstovic (29’, 45’, 73’)
    • Turkey: Kenan Yildiz (37’)

Group Standings

• Wales: Topped the group with 12 points and earned direct promotion to League A.
• Turkey: Finished second with 11 points and will play a promotion play-off.

Match Highlights

• 29’ (Montenegro): Nikola Krstovic opened the scoring with a precise finish following a long pass behind Turkey’s defense.
• 37’ (Turkey): Kenan Yildiz equalized with a well-taken strike inside the box after Orkun Kökçü’s assist.
• 45’ (Montenegro): Krstovic restored Montenegro’s lead with a powerful shot from just outside the box.
• 73’ (Montenegro): Krstovic completed his hat-trick with a header from a pinpoint cross by Gasevic.

Notable Performances

• Nikola Krstovic: Delivered a stellar hat-trick to lead Montenegro to victory.
• Kenan Yildiz: Scored Turkey’s only goal and showcased his potential in a challenging game.

Team Line-Ups

Turkey:
Mert Günok, Kaan Ayhan, Merih Demiral, Emirhan Topçu, Eren Elmalı, Okay Yokuşlu, Orkun Kökçü, Yunus Akgün, Arda Güler, Kenan Yildiz, Kerem Aktürkoğlu

Montenegro:
Nikic, Vukcevic, Vujacic, Sipcic, Tuci, Jankovic, Jovetic, Vukotic, Gasevic, Loncar, Krstovic

Key Notes

• Turkey’s Tactical Adjustments: Coach Vincenzo Montella made four changes to the starting XI compared to the previous match against Wales, with Kenan Yildiz and Emirhan Topçu earning starting spots.
• Montenegro’s Jovetic Returns: Captain Stevan Jovetic returned from suspension and played a key role for the hosts.
• Turkish Fans in Attendance: Over 5,000 Turkish fans supported their team at Niksic City Stadium, filling the allocated seating section.

Next Steps for Turkey

The Turkish team will now prepare for a crucial play-off match to secure a spot in League A. Despite the setback, the team will aim to bounce back and achieve their promotion goal.