After the big break of three months without the Macedonian domestic football, the Macedonian first league started again this week. There few surprises in the results, but not so unexpected after the many changes in the squads, strikes and financial and administrative problems in the clubs.
Makedonija Gj.P. – Renova Dzepciste 1:1 (1:0)
37′ Kleckaroski – 79′ Bozijanov
Leaders of the Macedonian first league Makedonija, had the domination during the first half, but it was obvious that they missed their tall striker Washington who was transferred to Partizan Belgrade this winter. After the first half an hour with no serious chances, the first big excitement came in the 36th minute when after a mistake by Renova’s defence, the ball came to the Brazilian De Brito but the goalkeeper Kovacevic saved his shot. But right in the next attack, Mitrev shot towards the goal and the blocked ball came to Osa who assisted Nikola Kleckarovski in the box, who easily scored for Makedonija’s lead.
Makedonija continued with the small domination in the second half. In the 54th minute, Kleckaroski came alone in front of the goal but Kovacevic blocked his shot on the edge of the box. In the 66th minute, Makedonija organized great attack through Brnjarcevski and Kleckaroski who passed to Lena. Nijaz Lena had big opportunity to score but he shot directly in Kovacevic. The first real chance for Renova came in the 74th minute when after a cross from the left, Makedonija’s defence made a mistake and Emini had big chance to score but missed the target. Since then, Renova started pressing towards Makedonija’s goal and created few chances and in the 79th minute Nuhiu sent nice cross from the left to Pepi Bozijanov who scored the equalizer with a header. This was only second conceded goal at home this season for Makedonija. Renova continued attacking and in the 86th minute Ibraimi from free kick shot low in the left corner but Pavlovic managed to block the ball in corner kick.
With the important point won on the stadium in Gjorce Petrov, Renova with 30 points climbed on the 3rd position while Makedonija still holds the lead with 38 points.
Napredok Kicevo – Milano Kumanovo 3:1 (0:1)
52′ Stepanoski, 55′ 79′(p) Niceski – 26′ Aleksovski
Napredok and Milano played probably the most interesting match this round. After Milano’s financial problems in the last few months, this match was under big question, but instead of strike, Milano traveled in Kicevo with full squad. The guests had good start of the match having the domination in the first half. Napredok had only one serious chance in the first half when in the 23rd minute Angeleski passed to Levkov who managed to miss the goal from very close range. Few minutes later, after a fast run from the right side, Gligorovski sent a cross to Sasho Aleksovski who scored the opening goal. In the 28th minute Alimi had a big chance to double the lead when he entered the box, but his weak shot was saved by Karamacoski.
And then in the second half, Napredok took the controll in their hands. Niceski took a corner kick in the 52nd minute and the newly entered Kire Stepanoski managed to equalize the score. In the 55th Statovci made a foul near the box and was sent-off because of two yellow cards. Antonio Niceski took the free kick and scored a fantastic goal in the left corner of Nuredinoski’s goal. Napredok confirmed the victory in the 79th minute when a penalty was awarded after Cvetanoski was fouled in the box. The veteran Antonio Niceski took the penalty and scored his 3rd goal this season.
This win brought Napredok very important points in the battle against relegation and they left the last position and are currently placed 9th with 17 points.
Metalurg Skopje – Pobeda Prilep 2:1 (1:1)
42′ Georgievski, 49′ Spasojevic – 45′ Krsteski
Metalurg’s completely new team reinforced by 13 new players had it’s successful premiere this weekend against Pobeda. During the first half, both teams played attacking football with many created chances, but no serious threat on the goals on both sides. The most serious chance came in the 8th minute when after a fast counter attack, Spasojevic shot above the goal. The first serious chances happened in the last minutes of the first half. In the 42nd minute Metalurg’s captain Dejan Georgievski sent a cross from the left side towards Pobeda’s goal and the goalkeeper Bozic made a big mistake let the ball end in his net. In the last minute of the first half, Ljamcevski took a free kick and Metalurg’s goalkeeper Mancevski blocked the ball but fell on the ground injured. The play wasn’t stopped and the ball came to Pobeda’s captain Darko Krsteski who sent nice shot from 30 meters in the empty net and equalized the score.
Metalurg started attacking from the beginning of the second half and in the 49th minute Georgievski passed to Neno who found Bojand Spasojevic in the box and the Serbian striker put the ball in the net with a header. In the following minutes, Metalurg successfully managed to control the match and keep the score. Pobeda had a good chance to equalize but Igor Momirovski missed his chance in the 86th minute.
Metalurg now climbed above the relegation and play-out zone, while Pobeda dropped on the 10th position.
Sileks Kratovo – Pelister Bitola 1:0 (0:0)
87′ Markovski
Sileks and Pelister played a not so entertaining match in Kratovo. The only real scoring chance happened in the 38th minute when Dimitrovski could have scored the opening goal for Pelister, but he hit the post of the goal.
In the second half, Glavevski had a chance for Pelister and Markovski also threatened on the other side, but there were no goals until the last minutes of the match. In the 87th minute, former Pelister member Blagojce Markovski sent a strong shot and Nikov wasn’t able to save it and it finished in his net. In the last seconds of the match, Stupic had chance to double the lead when the came out alone in front of the goalkeeper, but the ball ended above the goal.
Sileks kept the 6th position with 20 points while Pelister now fell on the last position with only 15 points.
Horizont Turnovo – Vardar Skopje 1:0 (0:0)
83′ Georgiev
After the long winter full with strikes, financial crisis and administrative problems, the weakened and unprepared squad of Vardar traveled away to Turnovo. In the first part of the match, the fans on the “Kukush” stadium in Turnovo didn’t saw any interesting football as the play was mainly on the middle of the pitch with no chances on both goals. The biggest excitement came in the 26th minute when Turnovo had a chance to score but Peev saved Vardar’s goal with his hand and he was sent-off. A penalty was awarded for Turnovo but Andonov failed to convert it in goal as Vardar’s goalkeeper Ljupco Kmetovski saved the kick. With a player more, Turnovo took the initiative and made pressure on the oponent’s goal. In the 39th minute Tenekedziev shot from the right side but Kmetovski saved.
The hosts had the control and attacked during the second half, but Vardar’s players managed to defend their goal but only until the 83rd minute when Dragan Georgiev with a nice shot from 15meters scored the only goal on the match.