Goran Pandev and Inter book a place to the Champions League Round of 16, while Edin Nuredinoski kept a clean sheet for Ethnikos Achnas.
UEFA Champions League, Group A, Inter – Twente 1:0
Goran Pandev started for Inter and played until the 90th minute when he was replaced by Cristiano Biraghi. Pandev actually started as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Samuel Eto’o starting as the left winger. Pandev was active early and had a chance in the 4th minute when he turned nicely but his shot from distance lacked power and was straight at the Twente keeper. Pandev then turned provider in the 16th minute when he made a clever pass to Wesley Sneijder who was fouled in a dangerous area and the resulting free kick taken by Sneijder hit the post. Pandev’s best chance came in the 23rd minute when Esteban Cambiasso found Pandev who turned and fired a shot that was saved by the Twente keeper. In the 51st minute, Pandev had another chance but his powerful shot from just outside of the box whistled just wide of the left goal post. Inter finally took the lead in the 56th minute through Cambiasso after a free kick taken by Sneijder struck the Twente wall but the ball fell perfectly for Cambiasso who fired a left footed shot past the opposing keeper. With the win, Inter will move on to the Champions League Round of 16 as they now have ten points from five games and are tied with Tottenham for 1st place while Twente is in 3rd place with five points.
UEFA Champions League, Group H, Partizan – Shakhtar Donetsk 0:3
Aleksandar Lazevski started at LB and played the entire game for Partizan who have lost all five group games so far and it doesn’t get easier for them as their next and final game in Group H is away to English giants Arsenal. All three goals by Shakhtar Donetsk were scored in the 2nd half and according to UEFA.com, Lazevski ran for 10.34 kilometers and completed 25 out of 34 passes.
Cyprus, Cyprus Coca Cola Cup, Ethnikos Achnas – Nea Salamis Famagusta 2:0
Edin Nuredinoski played from the start for Ethnikos Achnas and kept a clean sheet, Vance Sikov also played the entire game at CB, while Filip Ivanovski and Stojan Ignjatov did not play because of minor injuries.
Cyprus, Cyprus Coca Cola Cup, Enosis Neon Paralimni – Omonia Aradippou 3:0
Petar Milosevski was given a rest and did not play for Enosis Neon Paralimni, Bojan Markoski was not called up as he picked up a serious injury in the previous game and will be out for at least a month, while Krste Velkoski also didn’t play.
Romania, Liga I Bergenbier, Victoria Brăneşti – Dinamo Bucureşti 2:4
Kristijan Naumovski was an unused substitute for Dinamo Bucureşti as he was the #2 keeper behind Emilian Dolha.
Croatia, Hrvatski Nogometni Kup, Cibalia – Istra 1961 2:0
Armend Alimi did not play for Istra 1961 who were eliminated from the Croatian Cup by losing 5:2 on aggregate. This was the return leg after Istra 1961 lost the first leg 3:2 at home. Alimi and some of the other best players on Istra 1961 were rested as their team is focusing more on avoiding relegation instead of the Croatian Cup.
Netherlands, Eredivisie, Roda – Utrecht 1:1
None of the three Macedonians, Yani Urdinov, Aleksandar Stankov, and Antonio Stankov, were called up by Roda.
Australia, Hyundai A-League, Brisbane Roar – Perth Glory 3:2
Aleks Vrteski was an unused substitute for Perth Glory as he was the #2 keeper behind Tando Velaphi.
Friendly, Wil – Aarau 1:3
Aco Stojkov started for Aarau and played until the 86th minute when he was replaced by George Chulordava. Stojkov provided the assist on the second goal by Aarau in the 67th minute as both teams decided to play a friendly since Swiss Cup games were played this past weekend and both teams were already eliminated from the Swiss Cup so they decided to play a friendly to give their players some match practice.
photo: inter.it