Sileks defeated the young team of Vardar, Pelister disappointed against Skopje, Rabotnichki lost a win in the last minute against Shkupi, while Akademija Pandev and Renova also shared the points.
photo by FK Vardar: moment of the game Vardar – Sileks
Akademija Pandev is still looking for the first second half-season win. This time they failed to use the home field advantage over Renova, a team for whom this point is precious in the battle for avoiding relegation.
Kukush stadium in Turnovo
Akademija Pandev – Renova 1:1 (1:1)
Goals: 24′ (pen) Zoran Baldovaliev – 45′ Argjent Gafuri
Akademija Pandev: 1. Vujanac; 3. Atanaskoski, 4. Dimov, 16. Ganchev, 5. Iliev; 22. Grifoni (66′ 9. Mishov), 7. Ivanov, 8. Stoilov, 20. Markov (66′ 18. Velinovski), 19. Pandev (C), 28. Baldovaliev (82′ 17. Krstovski).
Renova: 41. Kobetić; 18. Mishkovski, 30. Neziri, 24. Stojanov, 5. Kostov, 23. Nafiu (64′ 17. Fernando Silva), 7. Sadiki, 11. Velija (90′ 14. Iljazi), 15. Gafuri (81′ 8. Jusufi), 10. Nuhi (C), 16. Stojanovski.
Yellow cards: Ivanov, Stoilov (AP), Fernando Silva (R)
Red cards:
Referee:
Pelister were firm favorites in the home clash against bottom placed Skopje, but failed to score and win just a point. Skopje once again showed great defense, same as in the previous two round against Renova and Akademija Pandev when also played a draw. The Bitola based team missed a great opportunity with 3 points to escape from the relegation zone.
Pod Tumbe Kafe stadium in Bitola
Pelister – Skopje 0:0
Goals: /
Pelister: 1. Petrovski; 4. Todorovski, 5. Dragarski, 66. Ristevski, 7. Ilijovski (77′ 17. Bowen), 21. Markoski, 8. Naumoski, 9. Milenkovski, 22. Trifunovski (64′ 23. Ljamchevski), 10. Konjarski, 19. Nedanoski (46′ 77. Manevski).
Skopje: 1. Stefanović; 6. Lichina, 16. Pecov, 14. Mounpain, 3. Bopesu, 13. Dimitrovski (76′ 4. Kocev), 8. Aleksovski, 10. Desnikj, 11. Koffi (70′ 7. Gjurchinovski), 9. Petkovski (C), 17. Demir.
Yellow cards: Ilijovski, Manevski, Naumoski, Dragarski (P), Bopesu, Demir, Stefanović (S)
Red cards: /
Referee:
Sileks put an end to every hope of Vardar for defending the title. However, the visitors were practically served with the points as Vardar played this game with youth players, mostly teenagers. They did this as a way of boycott towards the Federation regarding the decision not to punish Shkendija regarding the issue with the U21 player in the last round.
Vardar’s starting eleven; photo: FK Vardar
Popzlatanov brought a surprising lead for Vardar after just two minutes of play, but Sileks later had no troubles turning around the result and was leading 3:1 at half-time. The home players got back in game with Jovan’s second goal six minutes from time, but it only made the end interesting.
Despite the defeat the young players of Vardar showed skill and great determination. For most of them it was their first league debut, a match that they will remember forever. They lost the game due to lack of experience in the defense.
National Arena Philip II of Macedon in Skopje
Vardar – Sileks 2:3 (1:3)
Goals: 2′, 84′ Jovan Popzlatanov – 21′ Gligor Gligorov, 35′ Filip Timov, 45′ (og) Fitor Redjepi
Vardar: 1. Aleksovski (C); 15. Antovski, 31. Serafimov, 23. Mladenovski, 30. Todoroski; 48. Redjepi (77′ 72. Jahja), 34. Adem (56′ 14. Mitrevski); 33. Iseni; 88. Cvetanovski (78′ 8. Peshevski), 50. Berisha, 24. Popzlatanov.
Sileks: 27. Mitrović; 5. Stojchevski (46′ 16. Panovski), 13. F. Gligorov, 23. Filipović, 20. Timov, 22. Timovski, 7. Georgiev, 14. G. Gligorov (63′ 10. Filipovski), 21. Tanushev, 9. Đorđević (70′ 45. Aleksovski).
Yellow cards: Adem, Serafimov, Todoroski (V), Stojchevski, Filipović, Timovski, Georgiev, Aleksovski (S)
Red cards: /
Referee:
Europa League candidates Shkupi and Rabotnichki faced each other and shared the points. The visitors had the lead and lost the three points with a last minute equalizer by Shabani. Because of the red card suspension of first choice keeper Daniel Bozhinovski, Rabotnichki fielded 19-year-old Risto Jankov. The young keeper had a brilliant game, making some crucial saves including a penalty kick in the second half at 0:0. He saved the shot of Muharem Bajrami.
Boris Trajkovski stadium in Skopje
Shkupi – Rabotnichki 1:1 (0:0)
Goals: 90′ Bunjamin Shabani – 69′ Kire Markoski
Shkupi: 30. Jonuz (2′ 1. Zendeli); 7. Ljamchevski, 16. Krivanjeva, 3. Tipurić, 32. Ondo; 5. Bajrami (C) (79′ 89. Jasharoski), 8. Shabani, 14. Broja, 23. Stojkoski, 25. Emre Can (73′ 15. Basilio); 18. Ilijoski.
Rabotnichki: 12. Jankov; 4. Mitrev, 55. Krasniqi, 27. Rašo, 22. Asani, 24. Trajchevski (C), 10. Stjepanovikj, 7. Sergio (64′ 16. Petkovski), 17. Markoski, 99. Angelov (86′ 8. Duranski), 21. Kirovski.
Yellow cards: Mitrev, Krasniqi, Asani (R)
Red cards: /
Referee:
Shkendija beat Pobeda in the only game played on Saturday. With today’s defeat of Vardar, the Tetovo based team now has a 14 points lead at the top. To read about yesterday’s match, click here.
1.MFL 2017/18
| Pos | Club | Pts | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Shkëndija | 91 | 36 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 101 | 27 | 74 |
| 2 |  Vardar | 56 | 36 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 53 | 41 | 12 |
| 3 |  Rabotnichki | 52 | 36 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 50 | 43 | 7 |
| 4 |  Shkupi | 51 | 36 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 51 | 46 | 5 |
| 5 |  Sileks | 50 | 36 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 30 | 37 | -7 |
| 6 |  Akademija Pandev | 42 | 36 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 43 | 47 | -4 |
| 7 |  Renova | 41 | 36 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 36 | 53 | -17 |
| 8 |  Pobeda | 38 | 36 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 36 | 56 | -20 |
| 9 |  Skopje | 35 | 36 | 7 | 14 | 15 | 24 | 43 | -19 |
| 10 |  Pelister | 34 | 36 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 37 | 68 | -31 |