The second leg of the Montenegrin Cup semi-final is set to take place today on a newly renovated hybrid pitch in Bar and Tuzi.

A dazzling match awaits at “Topolica” as Mornar defends its 3:0 lead from the first leg against second-league team Iskra (19 p.m.). They are poised to secure a spot in the final on a freshly created, “washed” surface—a blend of natural and artificial grass, marking Montenegro’s first field of its kind.

The venue stands as a potential host for the Cup final, given the ongoing reconstruction of the field at the stadium under Gorica. Could the rematch with Iskra serve as a “dress rehearsal” for coach Zoran Đurašković and his team?

– We do not take our opponent lightly and believe the job is not finished. The stakes are incredibly high, regardless of our first match result. Iskra is a talented and youthful team, as demonstrated by their elimination of two first-league teams. I expect a tough match in the second leg as well. We are the favorites, but we must maintain our focus. We aim to celebrate reaching our first Montenegrin Cup final in front of our fans on the new field – said Đurašković.

The Iskra team from Danilovgrad is concurrently battling for survival in the Second League and faces challenges with personnel and fatigue.

– Unfortunately, the timing of the cup semi-final is not ideal for us. Our roster is limited, and playing matches every two to three days is exhausting for this young squad. In the first match, we were driven by our desire, but Mornar took advantage and outperformed us by one or two goals; three is quite a gap. Overcoming a 3:0 deficit is challenging, but we aspire to deliver our best in the second leg – explained Iskra’s coach Milan Radulović.

In the other semi-final, Dečić kicks off at home in Tuzi with a 1:0 lead against Petrovac from the first leg. Selected Nenad Brnović is closer to the final, having not conceded a goal in five games this season (four in the league), but everything remains uncertain.

– We will approach this as if the score is 0:0. Petrovac’s performances and their league position highlight how formidable they are. This is the most crucial game of the season for us, but I hope we can play an even more significant match in March—the Cup final – said seasoned player Drasko Bozovic from Dečić.

Petrovac arrives in Tuzi determined to overturn their first match loss and secure a final spot.

– As we mentioned earlier, reaching the semi-finals and having a fantastic season, our goal is also to win the Cup. The opponent is strong and ahead, but we will remain patient. One goal can be made up, and an early strike could change the match dynamics – stated Petrovac’s coach Zdravko Dragićević.

The match in Tuzi kicks off two hours earlier than the one in Bar at 17 p.m.

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