Besides all the problems and crisis in FK Vardar, the most famous Macedonian club proved it's indestructibility with the surprising win over local rivals Rabotnicki. On the other matches, Milano made the season very interesting with the win over leaders Makedonija, Pelister and Renova won as expected, while Sileks surprised Pobeda.
Vardar Skopje – Rabotnicki Skopje 2:1 (1:0)
34' Gjosevski, 48' Jancevski – 69' Wandeir
After all the chaos in FK Vardar, with no preparations, trainings and test matches during the winter period, the young squad which played with their heart on the pitch proved Vardar's indestructibility. The win is even bigger not just because Vardar played against the local rivals and current champions Rabotnicki with two 16-years-old and seven under 21 players, but they also played against the referees led by Aleksandar Stavrev who tried to ruin the derby.
After the cautious play by both sides in the opening minutes, Rabotnicki had the first chance in the 12th minute when after a cross from the left side, former Vardar striker Wandeir headed the ball towards Vardar's goal but directly in Pacovski's hands. Vardar's first chance happened in the 15th minute when Emurlahu shot from long distance but it went above the goal. In the same minute Vandair threatened on the other side with a similar shot from 20 meters, but Pacovski saved the ball. Rabotnicki continued with the pressure and mainly threatened with long shots and in the 19th minute Mojsov's shot ended next to the goal.
The real shock came in the 34th minute. Vardar's captain Gligorov took a corner kick from the right side and the defender Nikola Gjosevski with a nice header scored the opening goal for Vardar's lead which was the result on the half time.
Right on the start of the second half, Vardar shocked the champion again. Young Kostencovski sent a shot from outside the box and Rabotnicki's goalkeeper Jorde Georgievski made a mistake and failed to keep the ball in his hands and it came to Boban Jancevski who scored his 10th goals this season.
Unsetisfied from the performance, Rabotnicki's coach Babunski made a double substitution and Trajcev and Masev were substituted by Osmani and Goran Pandev's brother Sasko. But those substitutes didn't help a lot because Rabotnicki failed to create any serious chance. In the 65th minute Vandair scored a goal with a header from an dubious offside position and it was disallowed.
And then the referees led by Aleksandar Stavrev came into force and tried to ruin the derby and Vardar's success. Wandeir ran inside the box and with no contact with a player acted as tripped and fell in the box. The referee Stavrev and his assistand Marjan Kirovski (borther of Rabotnicki's striker Hristijan Krivoski), didn't saw Wandeir's act and whistled for a penalty kick. Furious Vardar players made big protest about this decision and the most experienced player in Vardar's squad Vasko Bozinovski was shown a red card and Vardar continued the match with 10 men. Vandair took the penalty and goalkeeper Pacovski saved his shot but the ball came again to the Brazilian and he scored from his second attempt.
Rabotnicki continued to attack and tried to use the players advantage, but Vardar's players succesfully managed to save their lead. After six months and 10 played league matches, Vardar won again.
Pelister Bitola – Napredok Kicevo 1:0 (0:0)
91' Dimitrovski
Napredok was very close to surprise Pelister on Tumbe Kafe in Bitola. Pelister made big pressure over Napredok's goal but failed to create a serious scoring chance. Napredok on the other side played good in the defence and on the middle of the pitch and threatened on Pelister's goal with counter attacks.
After the disappointing first half, Pelister's coach Alekso Mackov made three offensive substitution and went all in attack. The first big chance happened when Glavevski hit the bar. Besides the pressure, the guests from Kicevo successfully managed to defend their goal and when everybody thought that the match will end with no goals, Pelister scored the winning goal. It was the 91st minute when the veteran Presilski took a free kick and sent the ball in the box where Dragan Dimitrovski with a header placed it in the net for winning the three points.
Milano Kumanovo – Makedonija GjP Skopje 1:0 (1:0)
2' Brando
Very important win for Milano with which the season became more interesting. The hosts took the lead right on the start of the match when in the 2nd minute after a cross from a free kick, Erdogan Brando scored the only goal on the match with a header shot. Makedonija created few chances and Simovski was closest to equalizing when he hit the bar. In the last minutes of the first half, Fisnik Gashi earned his second yellow card and Milano continued with 10 players.
Makedonija tried to use the players advantage in the second half, but failed to convert this advantage in goals. Milano's defence managed to neutralize Makedonija's attacks and kept the lead until the end.
With this win, Milano with 33 points are now on only 5 points behind leaders Makedonija.
Pobeda Prilep – Sileks Kratovo1:2 (0:2)
50' Krstev (pen.) – 28' 36' Markovski
Sileks made big surprise in Prilep with the win over Pobeda. Pobeda's squad still can't find the key to the success with the many new players they brought this winter and after today's match they fell on the bottom of the table and are threatened with relegation.
Ljamcevski in the 18th minute had the first big chance for Pobeda when he hit the bar. But the motivated Sileks players quickly punished the hosts and used Pobeda's mistakes when after a fast counter attack, a cross ball from the left side was sent to Markovski who scored with header. Only eight minutes later Blagojce Markovski scored his second goal, this tim from the right side, four extending the lead for Sileks.
Pobeda had nothing to lose in the second half and went all out in attack. After one attack in the 50th minute, Donev played with hand in the box and Pobeda was awarded with a penalty kick. Experienced Mile Krstev took the kick and lowered the lead. Pobeda continued attacking and had few scoring chances but Nestoroski failed to score in the 62nd and 70th minute.
With this match, Pobeda extended their bad row of nine matches without a win.
Renova Dzepciste – Horizont Turnovo 1:0 (0:0)
51' Ibraimi
Harder then expected, Renova won the points against Turnovo. The hosts started attacking from the beginning of the match and had few chances but their big pressure lasted only in the first 20 minutes. Turnovo consolidated their squad and managed to control Renova's attacks. In the last minutes of the first half, Renova had good chances to score, but Emini in the 43rd and Ibraimi in the 45th minute didn't shot on target.
In the 51st minute, after a fast attack, Ismaili entered the box and asisted Besrt Ibraimi who took Renova in the lead. After the conceded goal, Turnovo started attacking, but failed to create a serious scoring chance and Renova kept the lead and won the three points.