Vardar beat Pelister in the biggest domestic derby, while no Second League side could manage to spring a surprise.

The first legs of the Macedonian Cup Round of 16 took place on Wednesday. There were no real surprises as the favorites won. Many matchups have already been decided, so the return legs on October 21 will see little drama. The only close affairs, Renova – Sileks and Makedonija GjP – Ljubanci, will be the ones to watch next month.

The fans of Shkendija expected numerous goals against Metalurg, a team with a shaky defense, but instead their team only twice found the back of the net.

Shkendija: Jovanovski; Abdula, Berisha, Rech, Todorovski; Demiri, Useini, Totre (58′ Ibraimi); Hasani (80′ Korenica), Radeski, Kirovski (72′ Asani).

Metalurg: Taleski; Ristovski, Karanfilovski, Lekoski, Naumoski, Mitrov (80′ Jevtoski), Dodev (46′ Bujchevski), Ilieski, Stojanovski, Jakimoski (74′ Tanturovski), Mersovski.

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Rabotnichki desperately needed to get back on track, and they did just that today. They beat second division side Gostivar 4:0, so it’s safe to say that this tie has already been decided.

Gostivar: Jashar; Ziberi (70′ Miftari), Ramadani, Savevski, Menga (75′ Ademi), Abazi, Biljalji, Nebi, Bilbiloski (58′ Beluli), Jonuzi, Merdjani.

Rabotnichki: Bozhinovski; Ristevski, Herrera, Najdovski, Cikarski (71′ Elmas); Petrovikj, Trajchevski, Vujčić (81′ Bocevski); Markoski, Altiparmakovski, Ilijoski (63′ Ristovski).

The clash between two top league participants, Renova and Sileks, ended in a win for the visitors from Kratovo. Renova took the initial lead early in the game, but Sileks turned the match around in just three minutes to get the narrow triumph.

Renova: Efremov; Musliu, Sadiki, Mecinovikj, Velija, Gafuri, Bajrami, Shakjiri (66′ R. Selmani), Nuhi (58′ Jusufi), J. Selmani, Skenderi (58′ Imeri).

Sileks: Simov; Bagashovski, Acevski (46′ Filipovski), Ristevski, Rudan, D. Gjurchinovski, Raspashkovski, Mitevski, Klechkaroski (75′ Gucev), N. Gjurchinovski, Marikj (67′ Gorgiev).

Another all First League encounter happened in Kochani. Here, the home team of Bregalnica came out on top. With that, Bregalnica got some revenge on Shkupi, a team that beat them on the road in league play. The “Blues” celebrated a 2:0 win and will travel to Skopje defending a decent lead.

Bregalnica: Zahov; Tonev, Mitrev, Nikovski, Ristovski, Mishev (18′ Filipovski, 46′ Stanković), Hristov, Kocev, Velkovski, Zdravkov, Nacev (78′ Mihailov).

Shkupi: Zendeli; Lazarevski, Asani, Murati, Janevski, Malikji, Adili, Bajrami (63′ Bae), Osmani, Demiri, Adem (78′ Zuka).

Mladost managed to win the road game against Second League side Vlazrimi 77 in Kichevo. The home fans surely expected more from this game, but Mladost has already one foot into the quarter-finals after this result.

Vlazrimi 77: Zerdeski; Ismaili, Vrencoski, Cuculi, Hani, A. Aliu, Salai, Kalaba (25′ G. Aliu), Simjanoski (46′ Ibraimi), Osmani (46′ Alimi), Sulaj.

Mladost Carev Dvor: Korunovski; N. Veljanoski, Grozdanoski, Elmazovski, Simjanovski (57′ Kuroki), Dimoski (69′ Sherifi), Sali (79′ Nikolovski), Azizi, Velevski, Dalcheski, Kalanoski.

Turnovo overcame Skopje in another game where a top division side had few issues with a second tier opponent. Skopje did get a late consolation goal, but Turnovo will still have a two goal lead.

Turnovo: Stoilkov; Tashev, Iliev, Milushev, Tanushev (87′ Bozhinov), Tafe, Ivanov, Mavrov, Kochoski (58′ Stevanović), Pandev (72′ Taipi), Imeri.

Skopje: Gjorgevski; Uzhevski, Tripunovski (46′ Aleksovski), Noveski, Mishevski, Shakjiri, Taseski, Desnikj (70′ Sulemani), Nastevski (61′ Mirchevski), Osmani, Smokovski.

Makedonija GjP vs. Ljubanci was the only match featuring two Second League sides. The home side led 3:0 at half-time and things looked bleak for Ljubanci. They were even down to 10 men in the 37th minute when Stojanche Nasevski got a direct red card. With those circumstances, Makedonija GjP was expected to add to their lead or keep it at 3:0, but that wasn’t the case. Ljubanci netted twice in the final minutes to give itself a legitimate chance in the return leg. The winner of this matchup will most likely be the lone Second League club to advance to the next round.

Makedonija Gjorche Petrov: Aleksovski; Bozhinovski, Terziev, Nikolov, Ramadan (55′ Lazarevikj), Kostovski, Fetahi, Zdravkovski, Cvetanovski, Stojkoski (53′ Ivanoski), Janchevski (55′ Mustafa).

Ljubanci: Ristovski; I. Nasevski (46′ Bojović), Stojchevski, Serafimovski, Velkoski, S. Nasevski, Hadjija, Cheshmedjiev, Stojanovski (59′ Kolekjeski), Ivanov, Mitev (46′ Te. Fidanoski).

The last cup game to start was the biggest Macedonian derby, Vardar – Pelister. It kicked-off a bit later, at 17.00 CET. The rivalry is no longer competitive these days due to Pelister’s plight. In Vardar’s 4:1 win on Wednesday, Pelister scored the best goal on a shot from distance, but Vardar cruised otherwise. This tie, like most of the others, has already been decided.

Vardar: Gachevski; Hambardzumyan (61′ Brdarovski), Grncharov, Novak, Ljamchevski; Spirovski (68′ Nikolov), Velkovski (72′ Juan Felipe), Asani, Dashyan; P. Petkovski, Stojkov.

Pelister: Pashovski; Todorovski, Trpeski, Dimitrioski, Lampevski, Nedanoski, Trajkovski (65′ Stojkovski), Lavurovski (86′ Mustafov), Petkovski, Milenkovski, Glavevski (72′ Trifunovski).

Round of 16 first leg results:

Shkendija – Metalurg 2:0 (2:0)
18′ Besir Demiri, 23′ Hristijan Kirovski

Gostivar – Rabotnichki 0:4 (0:1)
29′, 54′ Marjan Altiparmakovski, 53′ Bazhe Ilijoski, 71′ Sebastián Herrera Cardona

Renova – Sileks 1:2 (1:0)
11′ Argjent Gafuri – 34′ (pen) Boban Marikj, 36′ Darko Gjurchinovski

Bregalnica – Shkupi 2:0 (1:0)
28′ Goran Zdravkov, 83′ Mihajlo Mihailov

Horizont Turnovo – Skopje 3:1 (1:0)
7′ Valentin Kochoski, 59′ Kristijan Ivanov, 65′ Aleksandar Milushev – 81′ Milorad Smokovski

Vlazrimi 77 – Mladost Carev Dvor 2:4 (1:1)
16′ Vlorian Ismaili, 74′ Mirlind Ibraimi – 34′ Hristijan Grozdanoski, 61′ (pen), 78′ Antonio Kalanoski, 75′ Koken Kuroki

Makedonija Gjorche Petrov – Ljubanci 3:2 (2:0)
34′, 48′ Kristijan Kostovski, 45′ Boban Janchevski – 84′, 89′ (pen) Filip Kolekjeski

Vardar – Pelister 4:1 (3:0)
20′ Artak Dashyan, 25′ Darko Velkovski, 44′ Hovhannes Hambardzumyan, 64′ Boban Grncharov – 58′ Aleksandar Nedanoski