Shkupi won the derby against with a lone goal, Shkendija is back on top after beating Rabotnichki away. Makedonija GjP demolished Belasica in Strumica sending them at the bottom as Sileks also clinched three points. Pobeda for the first time this season fall to a Tetovo based team as Renova celebrated a come from behind win.

Due to the national team break that follows, all the first league matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday instead on Sunday.

photo by FC Shkupi: Filip Najdovski tackles Amir Bilali

The derby of the rounds was played in the Skopje neighborhood of Chair where Shkupi hosted local rivals Vardar in what is know as the Ethnic Derby of Skopje. In a entertaining match from both sides one goal decided the winner. Brazilian international Serginho scored in the 56th for a stadium eruption. His team managed to keep the lead and eventually celebrated against the big rivals. With this defeat Vardar now lost the top.

Chair stadium in Skopje
Shkupi – Vardar 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: 56′ Serginho
Referee: Dejan Jakimovski (Skopje)

Leaders Shkendija visited Rabotnichki and beat them for the second time this season. After scoring one goal each in the opening 45 minute, an own goal by home defender Mitrev scored just six minutes after the break happened to decide the winner.

With this win and Vardar’s defeat, Shkendija now took over the lead with a three-point advantage.

National Arena Philip II of Macedon in Skopje
Rabotnichki – Shkendija 1:2 (1:1)
Goals: 28′ Oliver Peev – 20′ Izair Emini, 51′ (og) Dean Mitrev
Referee: Marjan Eckoski (Ohrid)

Belasica continues to go downhill in form after being the best in form team in the league for some period. They did won a point away to Vardar in the previous round, but today they disappointed their fans. The Lions from Gjorche Petrov celebrated a win thanks to the goals scored by Brazilian midfielder Robson and a brace by striker Kirovski.

A minute before the end home keeper Pashovski made a huge mistake by allowing Miovski to block him while he was trying to kick the ball. That lead to the fourth goal for a big win of the Lions. Belasica with this defeat is now at the bottom of the table.

Mladost stadium in Strumica
Belasica – Makedonija Gjp 1:4 (1:2)
Goals: 19′ (og) Marko Jovanovski – 13′ Robson da Silva, 34′, 70′ Hristijan Kirovski, 89′ Bojan Miovski
Referee: Marjan Markoski (Ohrid)

Bottom-placed Sileks defeated third-placed Akademija Pandev and escaped the last place at the table leaving it to Belasica. It was Georgiev’s goal early in the 14th minute that decided the winner after a great solo run by Dodev. The Academy failed to score in the rest of the match and suffered their sixth seasonal defeat allowing Sileks to celebrate only the third win.

Sileks stadium in Kratovo
Sileks – Akademija Pandev 1:0 (1:0)
Goals: 14′ Boban Georgiev
Red cards: 72′ Gjorgi Stoilov (AP)
Referee: Josip Barton (Skopje)

Pobeda took the lead away to Renova in Tetovo thanks to Tanushev in the 33rd minute. Pobeda so far had a perfect record against both Tetovo based teams as they already celebrated against Shkendija and Renova and few days ago also defeated Shkendija at this stadium in the Cup quarter-finals.

However, Renova’s talented attacker Stojanovski equalized in the stoppage time before the break. Substitute Gafuri took care to break the winning run of Pobeda against Tetovo based teams with his late goal five minutes from time.

Gradski stadium in Tetovo
Renova – Pobeda 2:1 (1:1)
Goals: 45’+2 Vlatko Stojanovski, 85′ Argjent Gafuri – 33′ Gjorgi Tanushev
Referee: Marjan Gocevski (Strumica)