Not just that Macedonian failed to stay undefeated and finish second in the World Cup qualifying group, but got humiliated by Wales on Tuesday night by conceding 7 goals to suffer the second biggest defeat in its history, and both under coach Blagoja Milevski. What a way to mark a big jubilee: 300 matches by the Macedonian national football team!
photo by FFM: Daniel James in duel with Stefan Ashkovski
Milevski opted for Stole Dimitrievski between the posts, Andrej Stojchevski, Darko Velkovski and Gjoko Zajkov in the back line, Stefan Ashkovski and Bojan Ilievski as wing backs, Isnik Alimi, captain Enis Bardhi and Tihomir Kostadinov in the midfield and Elif Elmas and Bojan Miovski in the attack.
With standard players Ezgjan Alioski (left back) and Visar Musliu (central defender) out with an injury, the Macedonian defense was unable to stop the Welsh players who were in a good mood.
But the dead lock wasn’t broken by some great action. instead, Andrej Stojchevski tripped David Brooks in the box and Wales was awarded a penalty kick early in the 18th minute. Harry Wilson, who for the first time captained Wales, converted it despite Stole Dimitrievski being close to catch the ball.
Just three minutes later Brennan Johnson served Brooks who doubled the lead thanks to a small deviation by Stojchevski.
Two minutes after that Macedonia got back in game after a counter attack. Darko Velkovski perfectly served Miovski behind the Welsh defense and the attacker scored past Karl Darlow who slipped on the rainy field.
Before the break, in the 37th minute Johnson was left to run unmarked and fired a good shot that went in for a 3:1 lead, but was a bit deviated by Kostadinov’s block, enough to escape Dimitrievski’s hand.
After the the break the goals kept pouring in, just as the rain. In the 57th minute Wilson used Brooks’ pass to backheel for Daniel James who scored the fourth goal.
Milevski made another two substitutions bringing in Elmin Rastoder and Jani Atanasov, as he put in Darko Churlinov and Lirim Qamili two minutes before James’s goal. But that made no changes in the match.
15 minutes from time Wilson scored a free kick beauty to make it 5:1. It was already known that disaster is coming for Macedonia, whose players were lost on the field, just as coach Milevski on the bench.
Wilson completed his hat-trick after Velkovski kicked him in the led for a second penalty. The Welsh captain once again faced Dimitrievski and this time sent him the other way – 6:1.
Two minutes from time Sorba Thomas took a corner kick, debutante Isaak Davies header the ball and Nathan Broadhead scored from close range.
Highlights:
A humiliating 7:1 defeat for Macedonia, which is the second biggest defeat in its history, with the biggest being the 7:0 humiliation against England away two and half years ago, also under current coach Blagoja Milevski. To make things sadder, if its possible, this match was a big jubilee for Macedonia as it was the 300th match for the national team.
It is worth noticing that it is the first time that Wales scored 7 goals in one match after 1978 when they defeated Malta 7:0.
In the same time, in the other match in our group Belgium smashed Liechtenstein with 7:0 to confirm the first place and books its place at the World Cup. Wales as runner-up is going in the play-offs, Macedonia as well, but from the Nations League.