Napredok, Rabotnichki, Renova, Teteks and Turnovo used the home field advantage to defeat their opponents and collect all three points.
After a long time, Macedonian football fans finally followed a match live on TV as national television channel MTV began its broadcasts from this round. The match that was live was Rabotnichki against Metalurg and the fans certainly saw an interesting affair. After only 60 seconds, Metalurg’s keeper Igor Pavlović fouled Krste Velkoski in the box, got a red card and handed Rabotnichki a penalty. Metalurg’s manager Gjorgji Hristov had to substitute Petar Ljamchevski as early as the second minute to put Andreja Efremov between the posts. Efremov then went on to save Velkoski’s spot kick. Several minutes later, Goran Maznov scored a goal for Metalurg after Blagoja Ljamchevski’s cross from the left site, but it was ruled offside. In the 14th minute, Velkoski took a corner, Efremov rushed from the line, but slipped along the way, allowing Stipe Plazibat to score with a free header, giving Rabotnichki a 1:0 lead. As the match went on, Rabotnichki managed to control the game in midfield since Metalurg had to play with 10 players.
During half-time, Hristov made a bold move introducing two new players and using up all of the allowed substitutions. Milan Ristovski and Cvetan Churlinov entered the fray and they have certainly made an impact. Metalurg created several chances and it looked like they might get back in the game, but a fast counter attack by the home team saw Stefan Spirovski sent a great ball for Krste Velkoski who managed to beat Efremov this time and double Rabotnichki’s lead. Metalurg then scored another goal, but it was once again rightfully ruled out as Manchevski was fouled during the action. In the dying minutes of the match, Vladica Brdarovski was sprinting on a counter attack, sent a great ball for Genc Hyseni, who was fouled from behind inside the area by Vasko Mitrev, giving the referee Stavrev no other choice then a red card for Metalurg’s defender and another penalty for Rabotnichki. Krste Velkoski once again took the penalty and interestingly, Andreja Efremov denied him for the second time.
In the other match played on Saturday, Renova, as expected, won against Sileks in Tetovo with the same score as Rabotnichki’s game. A goal in each half, one by Vulnet Emini and one by Dushan Simovski, gave the home team the three points.
After beating Vardar, Napredok beat another title contender, this time Shkendija. After goalless half an hour of play, Kushtrim Balazhi brought the lead to the home team with goal from the penalty spot. In the last minute of the first half, Vladimir Petreski doubled the lead. Napredok was reduced to 10 men when goalkeeper Goran Pashovski got a direct red card in the 58th minute, but all Shkendija could do was a single goal by Burhan Alii in the 71st minute for a score of 2:1. Even with a player less, Napredok scored a third goal through striker Marko Simonovski eleven minutes from time. Later in the 88th minute Napredok was left with 9 men when defender Kiril Stepanovski got a red card as well, but the most important is that Napredok still got the points.
Bobi Bozhinovski’s brace gave Teteks the first points in the new season. After 5 defeats in the first 5 rounds, Teteks finally won. It was Pelister who happened to be Teteks’ first victim.
After the heavy defeat by Vardar in the previous round, Horizont Turnovo is back winning. Bregalnica Shtip couldn’t deal with Turnovo’s attackers and let two goals with Zoran Baldovaliev and Dejan Blazhevski scoring in the first half. Bregalnica also failed to beat the home defence and went back to Stip with a 2:0 defeat. Three minutes before the end, the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Igor Stojanov was red carded.
Vardar and Drita will conclude the Round 6 tonight with their game being scheduled to 20.00 CET at the National Arena Philip II of Macedon in Skopje.
Sunday:
Napredok – Shkendija 3:1 (2:0)
Kushtrim Balazhi 30′ (pen), Vladimir Petreski 45′, Marko Simonovski 79′ – Burhan Alii 71′
Teteks – Pelister 2:0 (1:0)
Bobi Bozhinovski 42′, 85′
Horizont Turnovo – Bregalnica Shtip 2:0 (2:0)
Zoran Baldovaliev 27′, Dejan Blazhevski 45′
Vardar vs. Drita tonight at 20.00 CET
Saturday:
Rabotnichki – Metalurg 2:0 (1:0)
Stipe Plazibat 14′, Krste Velkoski 66′
Renova – Sileks 2:0 (1:0)
Vulnet Emini 33′, Dushan Simovski 85′