After 17 years Tikvesh is back in the Macedonian top flight after defeating Sileks, while Renova was better on penalties against the brave team of Ohrid who was unlucky not to get promoted.

photo by FFM: aerial duel of Pepi Gorgiev and Stefan Naumcheski

Tikvesh got its revenge on Sileks for the promotion play-off elimination at the end of the 2018/19 season. Sileks won 3:2 back than, but today lost by a lone goal. First league football is back in Kavadarci after long 17 years in which they hit rock bottom falling all the way to the 4th division. Tikvesh last played in the 1.MFL in the 2003/04 season .

Today Tikvesh was better opponent showing by far more determination. In the opening half created several good chances, but somehow its players were failing to score. However, in the 54th minute the Kavadarci based team seized the occasion on a counter attack to break the dead lock. Naumcheski sent a through ball to Spahiu who rushed towards Sileks’ goal and eventually put the ball behind Bozhinovski. Sileks failed to equalize and Tikvesh won the single legged play-off.

Sileks went into this match as Cup winner and despite getting relegated this summer will participate in the Europa Conference League. It is not an unseen situation for the Macedonian football a relegated team to play internationally. The exact situation already happened with Teteks back in 2013 when they won the Cup and at the same time got relegated from the top flight, so this will be the second time.

Tikvesh will for the 12the time participate in the first league, while Sileks will play in the second division for the 2nd time. Since Sileks belong to the West, additional team from that group gets relegated. That unlucky team is 8th-placed Vlazrimi 77 who is equal on points with Teteks but with worse head-to-head record.

National Arena Toshe Proeski in Skopje
Tikvesh – Sileks 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: 54′ Ediz Spahiu
Tikvesh: 12. Stojan Dimovski; 4. Riste Temelkov, 5. Metodija Delov 26′, 6. Stefan Naumcheski 84′, 25. Stefan Kostov, 21. Aleksandar Varelovski (C), 3. Jordancho Naumoski (75′ 22. Filip Kostovski), 7. Blagoja Ljamchevski, 8. Kristijan Kostovski (61′ 23. Petar Ljamchevski), 9. Ediz Spahiu 89′, 24. Simeon Hristov (80′ 14. Stojan Petkovski).
Coach: Pache Blazhevski
Sileks: 1. Daniel Bozhinovski 90’+3; 2. David Manasievski (46′ 10. Filip Duranski, 66′ 8. Svilen Ignatov Shterev), 5. Srđan Drašković, 6. Riste Karakamishev, 16. Viktor Serafimovski, 20. Denis Ristov 78′, 22. Angelche Timovski (C), 26. Daniel Karcheski (58′ 11. Jordan Serafimovski), 27. Dejan Tanturovski, 7. Ivan Ivanovski (66′ 24. Nenad Neshovski), 14. Pepi Gorgiev (46′ 28. Krsta Đorđević).
Coach: Goran Simov
Referee: Marjan Eckoski (Ohrid)
Assistants: Slagjan Markoski (Gostivar) & Daniel Vasilevski (Skopje)
Fourth official: Jovan Kachevski (Struga)

The second play-off match was even more interesting as saw two goals on each side and the winner was decided after penalty shoot-out. Second league West runner-up Ohrid twice had the lead over Renova, but at the end was left short of the planned surprise. They took the lead after just 5 minutes of play after a huge mistake by keeper Velii, but the top flight team quickly leveled through Shefiti. Five minutes after the break and Ohrid once again was leading, this time keeping the lead just before the final whistle. First Redjepi got sent off duet to a second yellow card 9 minutes from time, and in the 89th minute Shefiti hit a brace to send the match into penalties after keeper Simonovski somehow dropped the ball.

The shoot-out started bad for Renova as experienced played Mishkovski got his shot saved, so Ohrid took the lead after the second series. However, from that moment forward Ohrid missed the remaining three shots: keeper Velii was hero after catching two shots with Veljanoski sending the last shot over the bar.

Ohrid missed a golden chance to get back in the top flight as their last participation was in the 2011/12 season. Instead, Renova will play its 16th season in a row.

Petar Miloshevski stadium in Skopje
Renova – Ohrid 2:2 (1:1); 3:2 p.s.o.
Goals: 19′, 89′ Shefit Shefiti – 5′ Ljupcho Trpeski, 50′ Robert Mitev
Renova: 12. Hadis Velii; 5. Alush Gavazaj (46′ 4. Filip Stojchevski), 30. Djelil Abdula, 21. Arlind Aliti (58′ 22. Saimir Fetai), 18. Nenad Mishkovski, 23. Bashkim Velija (68′ 26. Suhelj Muharem), 15. Fatjon Jusufi, 7. Burim Sadiki (C) (79′ 29. Edy Mena), 8. Remzifaik Selmani, 9. Shefit Shefiti, 24. Alen Jasharoski (46′ 11. Emran Ramadani).
Coach: Kjatip Osmani
Ohrid: 1. Nikolche Simonovski 90’+4; 4. Ajradin Cuculi, 5. Slave Markoski, 19. Romeo Kochoski 44′ (68′ 21. Viktor Naumovski 90’+1), 24. Ljupcho Trpeski, 27. Naum Veljanoski (C) 26′, 7. Sherif Redjepi 29′ 81′, 8. Aleksandar Gjorgjieski, 9. Aleksandar Celeski (87′ 25. Stefan Petrushevski), 10. Burhan Aliji (87′ 6. Martin Lekoski), 11. Robert Mitev 47′ (77′ 23. Atdhe Mazari).
Coach: Dragan Bocheski 90’+6
Referee: Aleksandar Grujoski (Kichevo)
Assistants: Kushtrim Lika и Zoran Jankulovski (Kichevo)
Fourth official: Marjan Stojanovski (Kichevo)

The penalty shoot-out: