Akademija Pandev stunned Shkendija in Tetovo ending their winning steak that lasted 7 games. Vardar gave Pobeda the fourth consecutive defeat, Rabotnichki celebrated in Strumica, while Makedonija GjP and Shkupi did not use the home field advantage and shared the points with Sileks and Renova.

photo by FK Akademija Pandev: the players celebrate after the huge win

Title holders Shkendija could not break the defense of the Academians and even was a goal down on half-time. Krstovski netted halfway through the opening 45 minutes after a counter-attack saw the ball reach to him on a rebound.

Shkendija was on a seven league matches winning run that ended today. Second seasonal defeat for them allowing Vardar to came close on just three points.

Gradski stadium in Tetovo
Shkendija – Akademija Pandev 0:1 (0:1)
Goals: 26′ Mario Krstovski
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (Skopje)

Vardar welcomed Pobeda and did everything to make this day special as their keeper Filip Gachevski celebrated the 100th appearance.

In the 29th minute Brdarovski tried a shot outside the box, visiting keeper Tofiloski reacted poorly and the ball went behind him. The red&blacks secured the points with two quick goals in a four minute span through Popzlatanov and Iseni in the second part of the second half. Pobeda recorded the fourth defeat in a row, while Vardar is now three points away from the top thanks to Shkendija’s defeat.

Boris Trajkovski stadium in Skopje
Vardar – Pobeda 3:0 (1:0)
Goals: 29′ Vladica Brdarovski, 67′ Jovan Popzlatanov, 70′ Besar Iseni
Referee: Marjan Gocevski (Strumica)

On a very wet field in Strumica it was Rabotnichki who broke the dead lock very early. In the 4th minute Petar Petkovski found Herrera in the box who scored. It was the second consecutive goal for the Colombian wingback who wore the captains armband today. Shortly after that Drobarov could have leveled but he hit the bar from close range.

Before the break the visitors doubled the lead. Todoroski sent a cross into the home box where Filip Petkovski headed into the net. The Kangaroos only managed to score a consolation goal in the injury time.

Mladost stadium in Strumica
Belasica – Rabotnichki 1:2 (0:2)
Goals: 90+2 Irfan Vusljanin – 4′ Sebastián Herrera Cordoba, 39′ Filip Petkovski
Referee: Petar Mantev (Negotino)

Bottom-placed Sileks traveled away to face Makedonija GjP. The Lions went on half-time with a lone goal lead thanks to Brazilian Robson scored a free kick goal in the 11th minute. The visitors equalized in the 62nd minute when Grozdanoski’s header found captain Duranski in the box who could not miss.

Gjorche Petrov stadium in Skopje
Makedonija GjP – Sileks 1:1 (1:0)
Goals: 11′ Robson da Silva – 62′ Filip Duranski
Referee: Marjan Markoski (Ohrid)

Shkupi hosted Renova in a direct encounter for avoiding relegation. In the 28th minute Velija stunned the home fans bringing Renova the lead. The hosts managed to equalize in the 68th minute thanks to Stojkoski who scored on a rebound. No team managed to add a winner for the points got split.

Chair stadium in Skopje
Shkupi – Renova 1:1 (0:1)
Goals: 68′ Kristijan Stojkoski – 28′ Bashkim Velija
Referee: Jovan Kachevski (Struga)

This was the second-to-last round before the long winter break. The first half-season will end with the Round 18 matches that will be played on Sunday, 2 December. A two and a half month long break will follow as the season will continue on 17 February 2019.