Wales claimed their first win under Craig Bellamy with a 2-1 Nations League success over Montenegro on a rain-lashed night in Niksic.
Kieffer Moore and Harry Wilson gave Wales a dream start with a quickfire double inside three minutes.
Moore’s opener was timed at 37 seconds – Wales’ fastest goal since 2003 – and ended their longest scoreless streak of four games since September 2012.
Driton Camaj set up a grandstand finish such an entertaining encounter deserved, but Wales held on for three points after their opening Group B4 draw against Euro 2024 quarter-finalists Turkey.
Wales celebrate going 2-0 up inside three minutes in a rainy Montenegro
Despite the early advantage, Wales could not rest easy in the face of a twin-pronged attack from their aggressive Montenegro hosts and the Niksic elements.
There were numerous crunching challenges on a surface that inevitably cut up after incessant rain had raised questions earlier in the day whether the game would be played. Niksic was hosting its first men’s senior international after Podgorica’s national stadium pitch had been declared unplayable by UEFA.
“That was the hardest, toughest conditions,” said Wales manager Bellamy after the game. “I’m trying to recall if I’ve been in that type of game before, I don’t think I have. Being on the side I was completely drenched and it just didn’t let up. I didn’t plan for that in Montenegro in early September.
“But it became a battle, that’s all it was. The conditions just didn’t allow for football, it was impossible. We just had to battle it out and this group they are capable of that. They’ve got that. That’s why they’ve gone to major tournaments and that’s what got them through today.
“The weather, you couldn’t plan for this today. Early on, part of me thought this one could get called off, but it didn’t, lucky enough.”
How Wales got Bellamy off the mark
Wales ended their goal drought with the first attack as Moore pounced on pinball in the Montenegro penalty area to slot home his 13th international goal off a post.
It quickly got better for Wales as Wilson picked up Neco Williams’ pass to deliver a stunning 25-yard shot into the top corner past a startled Milan Mijatovic.
Ethan Ampadu was booked in a frenetic opening and Montenegro almost halved the deficit when Nikola Krstovic sent Stefan Mugosa’s cross inches wide.
They went even closer when Ampadu lost possession and Jovetic, spotting Darlow straying outside his area, struck the crossbar with an audacious effort from inside his own half.
Darlow made a fine close-range stop from Jovetic and as the ball broke Ben Davies displayed all his experience to retreat and deny Camaj with a superb goal-line clearance.
Johnson was introduced before the break for the limping Connor Roberts and stung Mijatovic’s palms as the hour mark approached.
Wales played in horrendous conditions in Montenegro
Wales should have sealed matters when Wilson found Davies and his pass across the face of goal left Moore with the simplest of tap-ins, yet he blazed over from five yards.
Montenegro refused to surrender and Vladimir Jovovic struck an upright from 20 yards, with Krstovic putting over the rebound.
Darlow made an excellent save from Jovetic, earning a handshake in the process from the veteran forward, but the goal Montenegro had been threatening arrived
after 73 minutes.
Krstovic raced clear and Camaj tapped home into an empty net, but late home pressure proved in vain.
Bellamy hails Wales togetherness | ‘I don’t want them to go!’
Kieffer Moore and Harry Wilson celebrate in Montenegro
Wales manager Craig Bellamy: “Shocked to get two so early, but because of the conditions, the change of pitch, there’s been a lot going on in this trip. You try to plan for as much as you can, it wasn’t possible in this one.
“I had a good understanding of the character. We had to travel out a long distance to get here today because the game got moved, we really had to make a journey to come here and play. The bus driver appeared to drive pretty slow as well which extended the journey.
“These are the obstacles you can come across when you play away, but I could hear the players and the music they had on when they arrived and saw the togetherness they have, and I knew we were fine. I know this group, what I’ve seen from them this week, it’s an honour to be in charge of them or to be part of them. It really is.
“It’s been a really good week. Last night I was excited for this game, but also a little bit sad as well. They’re going now so I won’t see them for a few weeks. I don’t want them to go! That’s how much I’ve enjoyed working with them.
“I hope they feel the same way but also the staff as well, they’re a credit. They’re so good to work with and so hard-working as well. We are together, this group is together and it’s moments like that where I’m learning off them as well. They taught me a lot this week as well.”