Five penalties on the five matches plus a refereeing charade in Tetovo where Shkendija beat Rabotnichki by a controversial goal. Vardar celebrated in the local derby against Shkupi, Akademija Pandev needed two penalties to beat Sileks, Makedonija GjP and Rebnova defeated relegation struggling Belasica and Pobeda.
photo by Kocho S.Photography: the players of Vardar celebrate the goal
The local derby of Skopje got decided by a 19th minute penalty kick. Filip Ristovski brought down Lira in the box and Darko Micevski successfully converted the penalty. That moment happened to be decisive and neither team managed to score a goal before the final whistle.
Boris Trajkovski stadium in Skopje
Vardar – Shkupi 1:0 (1:0)
Goals: 19′ (pen) Darko Micevski
Referee: Dejan Jakimovski (Skopje)
Referee Mechkarovski with his disastrous decisions made a direct impact on the winner in the match featuring leaders Shkendija and visiting Rabotnichki. After a goalless first half Júnior scored the lone goal for Shkendija in the 53rd minute, but the goal came right after visiting captain Milovan Petrovikj was punched in the face by Agim Ibraimi. Mechkarovski just waved his hand for the game to continue despite all the blood coming from Petrovikj’s mouth. The visiting players were furious with the referee as well as all the staff at the bench and one of the assistant coaches got sent off.
The incident:
Gradski stadium in Tetovo
Shkendija – Rabotnichki 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: 53′ Stênio Júnior
Referee: Dimitar Mechkarovski (Skopje)
Akademija Pandev doesn’t let go of the second placed but today they needed two penalties in order to break the defense of relegation struggling Sileks. Both times Ljupcho Doriev was better than keeper Andreja Efremov securing the points. For the first penalty Filip Milenkovski fouled Gjorgi Stoilov, while the second was awarded after Dejan Blagojević brought down Mario Krstovski.
The hosts about to take a free kick; photo: FK Akademija Pandev Strumica
Mladost stadium in Strumica
Akademija Pandev – Sileks 2:0 (1:0)
Goals: 22′ (pen), 55′ (pen) Ljupcho Doriev
Referee: Marjan Eckoski (Ohrid)
Makedonija GjP with a win over Belasica reached the safe zone. Tanturovski and Bozhinovski brought a 2:0 lead to the Lions, while Gorgiev only managed to make the end interesting with his goal scored on a header six minutes from time.
Gjorche Petrov stadium in Skopje
Makedonija GjP – Belasica 2:1 (1:0)
Goals: 10′ Dejan Tanturovski, 76′ Bobi Bozhinovski – 84′ Pepi Gorgiev
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (Skopje)
The spectators in Ohrid saw five goals as Pobeda and Renova played an interesting match. The visitors came out victorious leaving the hosts pointless from this game and still bottom-placed. Former Pobeda player Mustafov was the hero today as he scored a brace within just two minutes in the first half. After the match Jane Nikoloski stepped down as manager of Pobeda.
A view at the match; photo: Petar Dimoski
Atina Bojadji stadium in Ohrid
Pobeda – Renova 3:2 (0:2)
Goals: 52′ (pen), 61′ Gjorgi Tanushev – 17′, 18′ Burhan Mustafov, 58′ (pen) Vlatko Stojanovski
Referee: Jovan Kachevski (Struga)
1.MFL 2018/19
| Pos | Club | Pts | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Shkëndija | 79 | 36 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 80 | 29 | 51 |
| 2 |  Vardar | 64 | 36 | 17 | 13 | 6 | 45 | 23 | 22 |
| 3 |  Akademija Pandev | 58 | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 45 | 35 | 10 |
| 4 |  Shkupi | 48 | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 40 | 42 | -2 |
| 5 |  Renova | 47 | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 53 | 49 | 4 |
| 6 |  Makedonija GjP | 47 | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 45 | 50 | -5 |
| 7 |  Rabotnichki | 46 | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 43 | 49 | -6 |
| 8 |  Sileks | 44 | 36 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 27 | 39 | -12 |
| 9 |  Belasica | 38 | 36 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 37 | 49 | -12 |
| 10 |  Pobeda (2010) | 23 | 36 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 26 | 76 | -50 |