Five-star Moldova put Montenegro to the sword

Moldova made it two wins in five days by overwhelming Montenegro 5-2 in Podgorica in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group H.

Stevan Jovetić wiped out Alexandru Antoniuc's first-half opener shortly after the break, only for the visitors to take control with quickfire strikes from Igor Armaş and Eugeniu Sidorenco. Artur Ioniţă and Antoniuc rubber-stamped the advantage late on, although there was still time for Jovetić notch his second.

Such cold facts only tell half the story of a dramatic game that burst into life when Montenegrin keeper Vukašin Poleksić repelled Vitalie Bordian's strike into the path of Antoniuc who slotted in the rebound. The home team's spirited response bore fruit on 55 minutes, Jovetić keeping his composure from the spot after Victor Golovatenco had felled Vladimir Božović.

Ion Caras's charges wasted little time wresting back the initiative, Armaş scoring from close range before Sidorenco beat Polaksić with a fine 20-metre drive. The goals kept following for Moldova as Ionita pick-pocketed Poleksić and rolled the ball into an empty net. Not content with their lot, Antoniuc rounded off a flowing counterattack. Jovetić's late reply was scant consolation for Branko Brnović's Montenegro, who finish third.