An entertaining match with four penalties given by the Macedonian referee ended with the Russians claiming the win as they also managed to score from open play.

photo by MacedonianFootball

Both teams fielded players from the next generations that next years will be able to compete for the U21 official completions (of course, for Russia if their suspension gets lifted). The match looked more like a match for points rather than friendly as there were many rough tackles resulting in 7 yellow cards.

photo by FFM

Russia took the lead in the 36th minute from the spot. When everyone expected Macedonia to get a foul as Velkov was knocked down by Pomalyuk, referee Stojchevski pointed at the penalty spot and showed Murati a yellow card pointing out that he was pulling Umnikov. He left not just the Macedonians confused, but also the Russians. Okishor converted the penalty for 0:1, result that remained until the break.

In the 57th minute Russia was given a second penalty. This time Murati brought down Okishor in the box and the decision was rightful. Bobyor was sure from the spot for 0:2.

The young Macedonians came back in the 79th minute thanks to penalty kick that was awarded for something that Akhmedov did in the box during an aerial battle for the ball, as he was shown a yellow card. Substitute Tashovski converted it for 1:2.

The hopes of the Macedonians to stay undefeated lasted only two minutes. In the 81st minute Tarasov sent a cross at the far post where Aleksandrov headed the ball at the other post and Akhmedov simply tapped in the ball in the home net making the score 1:3.

In the stoppage time a fourth penalty was awarded, second for Macedonia as Shirikj got a ball in the box and was tripped by Platonov. Tashovski  stepped in for the second time and set the final result of 2:3.

Highlights:

You can watch the entire match here.

The 21s will now head to Bitola where on Thursday will host Montenegro in the 2027 EURO qualifiers who will be closed on 5 October with a road match against Sweden.

Training center Petar Miloshevski field 1 in Skopje
Macedonia – Russia 2:3 (0:1)
Goals: 79′ (pen), 90’+1 (pen) Vasil Tashovski – 36′ (pen) Viktor Okishor, 57′ (pen) Ivan Bobyor, 81′ Ilias Akhmedov
Macedonia: 1. Slave Vrgov (46′ 12. Nataniel Dimovski); 16. Martin Djangarovski (61′ 24. Fadil Islamovikj), 5. Luka Atanasovski, 6. Emir Shabotikj (61′ 20. Darijan Tasev), 2. Zlatko Radeski (46′ 13. Gjorgi Tanchev), 8. Ilija Maslarov (75′ 14. Mario Mitrev), 3. Andrej Velkov (46′ 19. Filip Cvetkovski), 4. Adis Murati (84′ 23. Ivan Shirikj), 10. Nikola Manojlov (61′ 18. Luka Trpevski), 17. Ariton Mehmed (75′ 2. Vasil Tashovski), 9. Ditmir Hodja (61′ 25. Salim Arifi). Coach: Aleksandar Tanevski
Russia: 1. Ignat Terekhovsky; 2. Nikita Babakin (22. Daniil Chevardin), 5. Artyom Khmarin (75′ 15. Aleksandar Tarasov), 4. Matvey Bardachyov (C), 3. Platon Platonov, 6. Mikhail Umnikov (63′ 13. Ilyas Akhmedov), 10. Viktor Okishor (75′ 19. Dmitry Aleksandrov), 11. Ivan Bobyor (63′ 21. Andrey Kasadzhikov), 8. Vitaly Bondarev, 7. Timofey Komissarov (46′ 17. Gleb Popolitov), 9. Aleksandar Pomalyuk (46′ 16. Stepan Glotov). Coach: Ivan Shabarov
Yellow cards: Murati, Mehmed, Atanasovski (M), Umnikov, Babakin, Akhmedov, Tarasov (R)
Referee: Igor Stojchevski
Assistants: Darko Jovchevski & Martin Petkovski
4th official: Furkan Idrizi