Montenegro take a bow with victory

Montenegro 2-1 Hungary
Two second-half penalties gave Montenegro a memorable friendly win against Hungary on their debut as an independent nation in Podgorica.

Festive mood
The home crowd of around 10,000 were in festive mood despite the rainy conditions at the Buducnost Stadium. This was the full international bow for Montenegro, welcomed in January as UEFA's 53rd member following last year's split with Serbia - that union having ended on the football field with the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The home fans were given a rude awakening, however, when Hungary forward Tamás Priskin struck in the very first minute from close range after latching on to a cross from the right.

Comeback
The alert Montenegro goalkeeper Vukašin Poleksić then denied Watford FC player Priskin and fellow England-based striker Péter Rajczi of Barnsley FC with a string of superb saves in the first half. Eventually the home side regained their composure and Mirko Vucinić levelled in the 64th minute after Milan Purović was hauled down in the area. The same player's jinking run produced the second spot-kick, driven in by Igor Burzanović with eight minutes left.

Presidential approval
As he basked in his team's victory, Montenegro coach Zoran Filipović said: "It is a fantastic feeling to get off to a winning start. We weren't at our best but it was the first time we played together as a team and this result will certainly boost our confidence." The nation's president Filip Vujanović was in attendance and hailed "a historic sporting victory for our small nation". Montenegro will enter UEFA competition at Under-17, U19 and U21 levels in the autumn, with their senior debut coming in 2010 World Cup qualifying. Hungary, meanwhile, have their first UEFA EURO 2008™ assignment since Péter Várhidi's appointment as coach against Moldova on Wednesday.