FK Buducnost Podgorica strengthened their grip on the Montenegro First League title race with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mornar at Stadion pod Goricom on Wednesday. In a match that swung one way and then the other, Buducnost built a two-goal lead, surrendered it after the break, and found a late winner to take all three points in front of their home support.

Match overview

Buducnost started with the authority expected of the league’s dominant side, pressing Mornar high and forcing the visitors into a series of early clearances. The hosts opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Vuk Adžić latched onto a loose ball at the edge of the box and drove a low finish into the corner. Buducnost doubled their advantage on 28 minutes through Luka Marinović, who converted from close range after a well-worked move down the right.

Mornar, however, refused to fold. The visitors halved the deficit just before half-time when Jovan Vučić capitalised on a defensive hesitation and slotted past the goalkeeper. That goal changed the mood of the contest, and Mornar equalised on 67 minutes through Stefan Radović, whose header from a set piece silenced the home crowd.

Key moments

• 12' — Buducnost 1-0: Vuk Adžić opens the scoring with a crisp low strike after Mornar failed to clear.
• 28' — Buducnost 2-0: Luka Marinović finishes a flowing move from the right flank.
• 44' — Buducnost 2-1: Jovan Vučić punishes a moment of hesitation in the Buducnost defence.
• 67' — Buducnost 2-2: Stefan Radović heads home a dangerous set piece to bring Mornar level.
• 84' — Buducnost 3-2: Balša Vukotić settles the contest with a composed finish inside the area.

Tactical story

Buducnost lined up in a 4-2-3-1 and controlled possession for long spells, using their full-backs to stretch Mornar’s compact 4-4-2. The hosts created the better chances in the first half, but their inability to kill the game left the door open. Mornar’s response was built on disciplined defensive shape and quick transitions, and their two goals came from exactly the kind of direct moments that had troubled Buducnost before the interval.

The decisive adjustment came late in the second half, when Buducnost pushed an extra body into the attacking line and increased the tempo of their passing around the penalty area. That pressure eventually told, with Vukotić finding space between the centre-backs to score the winner.

Standout players

Adžić was Buducnost’s most inventive attacker, combining sharp movement with an end product, while Vukotić delivered the most important contribution of the night with the late winner. Marinović’s first-half goal and willingness to run in behind also stretched the Mornar back line. For the visitors, Vučić and Radović deserved credit for dragging their side back into a match that looked to be slipping away.

What the result means

The win keeps Buducnost at the sharp end of the Montenegro First League standings and reinforces their reputation as the team to beat in the domestic title race. For Mornar, the performance offered encouragement despite the defeat: they showed resilience and attacking threat, but remain in need of points to pull clear of the mid-table pack. In a league where Buducnost have long set the standard, this was another reminder that even their less polished performances can still end in victory.