Another loss for Macedonia in EURO 2012 qualifying which pretty much puts an end to our chances of finishing in the top 2 of Group B.  One word can best describe this game: finishing.  Ireland displayed clinical finishing while Macedonia missed several big chances including a penalty.

During the first half, the game started very tense as both teams committed a lot of fouls and there were several stoppages during the opening minutes of the game.  The Ireland keeper Shay Given complained to the referee of fans pointing lasers in his eyes so that slowed down the game as did Ilco Naumoski picking up a shoulder injury early in the game.  Naumoski tried to return but the pain was to severe so he was substituted in the 10th minute by youngster Ferhan Hasani.  Ireland once again managed to take the lead early in the game as Robbie Keane scored his 50th goal for the Irish national team in the 8th minute when his shot from distance took a deflection off of defender Nikolce Noveski and it ended up in the back of the net.  Macedonia should have equalized five minutes later when Ivan Trickovski played a great ball to Goran Pandev but Pandev’s finishing let him down as his shot from a good position was straight at the opposing keeper.  Macedonia certainly didn’t look inferior to Ireland and had more of the possession but they could not find the equalizing goal.  Ireland got a break in the 24th minute when it seemed John O’Shea brought down Pandev in the box but the referee waved play on to the disgust of Pandev who slammed his hands in disbelief.  Things only got worse in the 36th minute as the Macedonian defenders were passing the ball around but Boban Grncarov then made a huge blunder as he tried to play the ball back to the keeper but he mishit the ball which allowed Keane to intervene and score his second goal of the game.  The Macedonian players and fans seemed stunned and couldn’t believe that they were two goals down.  However, just four minutes later, Pandev was once again fouled in the box by O’Shea but this time the German referee pointed to the spot.  Ivan Trickovski took the penalty but it hit the post as Macedonia just could not catch a break and was trailing 2:0 at halftime.

There was not as much action in the second half.  Macedonia lacked ideas and the players still seemed stunned over what happened in the first half.  Macedonia had most of the possession but they were not threatening for the majority of the half.  The best chance in the second half fell for the substitute Mario Gjurovski but his well placed shot to the top left corner was saved nicely by Given and it went for a corner.  Goran Popov also attempted several shots from distance but they failed to trouble the Irish keeper.  Ireland did not trouble the Macedonian goal during the second half but they seemed happy with the score and were defending the lead.  The Macedonian crowd was very loud to start the game but they appeared restless in the second half as the national team was lacking ideas and creativity.

The major question after this game will be the job security of Mirsad Jonuz.  Will he be relieved of his duties?  If not, how can FFM justify keeping Jonuz as the manager of the national team?  It is just not working.  Jonuz has been given over two years to turn it around but Macedonia is going backwards.  During both games against Ireland, Macedonia did not look inferior to their opponents but a manager is judged based on results and Macedonia suffered another two losses.

To view the match report click here.

Game highlights:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=rs2_7DAARjw