Turkey remains unbeaten in the third game of the Nations League. Vincenzo Montella’s team deservedly won 1-0 against Montenegro.
Turkey celebrates after Irfan Can Kahveci (#17) made it 1-0.
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With four points from two games, Turkey led Group 4 in League B of the Nations League. The European Championship quarter-finalist was also the favorite against Montenegro, who had so far had no points, in Samsun at home.
Kahveci makes it 1-0
UEFA Nations League, 3rd matchday
This was also reflected on the pitch, where Turkey had more of the game and, above all, more of the ball from the start. The first dangerous chance still came from a set piece. However, Demiral headed a Calhanoglu corner over it (12′). But that was almost all the real scoring opportunities in the first half, apart from a few harmless long-range attempts by Türkiye. Montenegro relied on the counterattack, but Camaj (29′) and Krstovic (37′) didn’t pose much of a threat.
After the break there were initially Turkish shots from the second row, but they immediately became more dangerous. However, both Arda Güler (53rd) and Kökcü (55th) missed the 1-0. That would happen around a quarter of an hour later – and Yildiz, who had been substituted a few seconds earlier, played a key role in this. The youngster from Juventus Turin, who trained at FC Bayern, initially put the ball on the post, and Kahveci then only had to dust it off (70th).
As a result, the game was a bit disjointed until the final phase, in which Calhanoglu had a double chance (84th) and Celik (87th) had the decision on their feet, but left it. In the end, Turkey had an arduous, albeit deserved, 1-0 victory, which extended its lead in the table. Things will continue for both of them on Monday at 8:45 p.m. Turkey is visiting Iceland and Montenegro is visiting Wales.
