Key Takeaways:
- Croatia overturned a 0:2 deficit to triumph 3:2 away to Montenegro in their final Group “L” qualifier
- The Croatians concluded their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with 22 out of a possible 24 points
- Ivan Perisic scored from the penalty spot in his 150th international appearance
Match Overview
Croatia, having already secured their place at the 2026 World Cup, rounded off their Group “L” qualification fixtures with an emphatic comeback victory over Montenegro in Podgorica. The visitors recovered from conceding two early goals to seal an impressive 3:2 win, bringing their total to 22 points out of 24.
Montenegro, despite no longer being in contention for a playoff spot, were eager to earn a memorable result on home soil. Head coach Mirko Vucinic deployed Nikola Krstovic and seasoned forward Stevan Jovetic as his strike partnership, supported in midfield by Marko Jankovic, Andrija Bulatovic, Stefan Loncar, and Milutin Osmajic.
What a finish: the comeback is complete! #Croatia closes the 2026 @FIFAWorldCup qualifying campaign with another victory, 3:2 at Montenegro – congratulations! 🇭🇷✌️🔥🎉 #MNECRO#HrabarBroj | #WCQ | #PokažiSrce | #Family | #Vatreni❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/mQbNACrTQg
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) November 17, 2025
First Half: Montenegro Strike Early
In a match affected by persistent rain and a slippery surface, both teams struggled for fluency in the opening period. Croatia’s Igor Matanovic missed an early opportunity before the hosts struck inside three minutes. Duje Caleta-Car twice failed to clear his lines, allowing Milutin Osmajic to burst into the area and finish powerfully for 1:0. The 26-year-old attacker, currently with Preston, made the most of his chance.
Stevan Jovetic forced a good save from Dominik Livakovic in the 11th minute. Six minutes later, Nikola Krstovic shrugged off Josip Sutalo and dispatched a clinical finish past Livakovic, doubling Montenegro’s advantage to 2:0.
The visitors responded in the 37th minute after VAR intervened to award a penalty for Slobodan Rubezic’s foul on Kristijan Jakic, which also resulted in a yellow card. Ivan Perisic converted from the spot, marking his 150th international cap in style and halving the deficit before the break.
Second Half: Croatian Resilience and Turnaround
During the interval, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic introduced Marin Pongracic and Josip Stanisic for Duje Caleta-Car and Josko Gvardiol. Montenegro continued to threaten, with Jovetic’s powerful strike forcing Livakovic into action soon after the restart, followed by a deflected Krstovic effort hitting the post.
Croatia’s attacking intent increased with the introduction of Andrej Kramaric and Petar Musa. In the 72nd minute, Musa’s shot struck the woodwork, but Kristijan Jakic reacted swiftly to level the scores at 2:2.
The visitors completed their comeback in the 87th minute. Nikola Vlasic capitalised on a costly mistake from Marko Perovic, pouncing to score the decisive goal and secure all three points for Croatia. At the death, Livakovic preserved the victory with a crucial stop from Milan Vukotic.
| Scorers | Minute | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Milutin Osmajic | 3′ | Montenegro |
| Nikola Krstovic | 17′ | Montenegro |
| Ivan Perisic (penalty) | 37′ pen. | Croatia |
| Kristijan Jakic | 72′ | Croatia |
| Nikola Vlasic | 87′ | Croatia |
Team Selection and Tactical Changes
Having already clinched top spot in Group “L” with a 3:1 win over the Faroe Islands in Rijeka, Croatia’s Zlatko Dalic made rotation at key positions. Igor Matanovic (Freiburg) led the line ahead of regulars Andrej Kramaric and Petar Musa, while Luka Modric was not included in the starting eleven.
Conclusion
Croatia’s spirited display in Podgorica underlined the squad’s quality and depth, with multiple players contributing decisively despite a rotated line-up. The victory capped an almost flawless qualifying campaign, placing the “Vatreni” in excellent stead for the 2026 World Cup.
