EL: Shkendija buries group stage with two penalty misses (Video)

Despite two penalties awarded and complete domination in the first 60 minutes, in the end Shkendija lost 0:2 to Rosenborg and for a third consecutive year failed to pass the Europa League play-off and to qualify for the group stage.

photo by Rosenborg BK: Ibraimi hits the post from the spot

Shkendija started the game very well and had the first big chance already in the 6th minute when Besart Ibraimi received a great long ball and tried to shoot with a header but Hansen managed to save his shot. Only 9 minutes later, Bejtulai managed to score a goal after a free kick but the celebration didn’t last long as the referee disallowed the goal due to offside.

However, Shkendija kept attacking and in the 19th minute that resulted in getting a penalty awarded for a foul over Ibraimi. Besart decided to convert the penalty himself but he only struck the right goal post, leaving Shkendija without a lead.

Nonetheless the Macedonian champion did not stop there and continued dominating and creating chances through Emini, Mici, Ibraimi and Totre, causing a lot of pressure over Rosenborg. But similar like in the away game, Shkendija once again failed to capitalize any of those chances and in the end they finished the half-time with a 0:0 result.

Only 4 minutes into the second half-time, Besart Ibraimi once again gets fouled inside the penalty area and the referee immediately shows on the penalty spot. This time Izair Emini took the responsibility, but Rosenborg’s goalkeeper Hansen continued with his superb performance and saved the shot, leaving Shkendija with a second missed penalty.

Osmani’s team continued attacking over the next 20 minutes trying to score, but as the time was passing the domination and energy started going down, which resulted in a crucial and game-decisive goal by Hovland in the 67th, bringing 0:1 lead to Rosenborg.

Despite the obvious drop of motivation after the conceded goal, Shkendija continued trying to score an equalizer, but in the end it was once again Rosenborg who scored one more goal before the end of the game, this time through Reginiussen in the 84th minute after a free kick.

Finally Rosenborg won the play-off duel with a total score of 5:1, which makes a third consecutive elimination for Shkendija in the Europa League play-off.

This loss leaves a very big frustration and disappointment between Shkendija’s fans and players as the result certainly does not reflect the play on the field, but in the end it is only the goals that count. The Macedonian team clearly gave their best as they were completely superior throughout today’s game by kept creating numerous chances, as they did on the road game as well, but once again they failed to capitalize any of those chances whereas Rosenborg had perfect efficiency of the little chances they made up front.

National Arena Philip II of Macedon in Skopje Macedonia
Macedonia Shkendija – Norway Rosenborg 0:2 (0:0), 1:5 agg.
Goals: 67′ Even Hovland, 84′ Tore Reginiussen
Shkendija: 1. Zahov; 21. Mici (86′ 11. Shefiti), 6. Musliu, 4. Bejtulai, 16. Murati; 8. Totre (76′ 19. Bojku), 5. Alimi (C); 18. Stênio Júnior, 20. Emini, 34. Nafiu (64′ 9. Selmani); 7. Ibraimi.
Rosenborg: 1. Hansen; 3. Meling, 4. Reginiussen (87′ 26. Šerbečić), 16. Hovland, 2. Hedenstad; 8. Konradsen, 25. Lundemo, 7. Jensen (C); 27. Jebali, 9. Bendtner (74′ 14. Søderlund), 17. Levi (62′ 5. Denić).
Yellow cards: Stênio Júnior, Musliu, Bejtulai (Sh), Hovland (R)
Red cards: /
Referee: Aliaksei Kulbakou Belarus
Assistants: Dzmitry Zhuk & Aleh Maslianka Belarus
Fourth official: Dzianis Shcharbakou Belarus

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