Montenegro U19 — Israel U19, Friendlies

Israel U19 secured a 2-0 win over Montenegro U19 in a Friendly International on Thursday. The match took place on 2 October 2026, with both goals coming in the first half. The visitors opened their account in the ninth minute before adding a second just after the half-hour mark.

Israel controlled the tempo with 58 per cent possession, while Montenegro held 42. The visitors registered eight shots on target to Montenegro's four, though the hosts generated more total attacks — 93 compared to 103 for Israel. To be fair, possession alone doesn't tell the full story.

The defensive discipline was evident on both sides, with Montenegro collecting four yellow cards and Israel three. Neither side saw a red card, and the offside count was minimal — two for the hosts, one for the visitors. By then, the scoreline had already shifted the momentum.

Looking at the recent form, Montenegro arrived with mixed results: two draws against Iceland and Georgia, a 1-0 win over Albania, but also heavy defeats to Ukraine and Slovakia. Israel's record showed similar inconsistency — draws with Bosnia and Cyprus, wins against Germany and Cyprus, but a loss to Austria.

The final tally leaves Israel with something to build on, while Montenegro will need to address their defensive frailties. Three or four moments decided this game, and the rest was background noise.