In the first game of the new Nations League season Macedonia was able to collect three points against Armenia.
photo by FFM: The players celebrate after the first goal
Coach Igor Angelovski let the Lions play in a 4-2-3-1 system with Damjan Shishkovski on goal as a replacement for the usual goalie Stole Dimitrievski. Goran Pandev was on the bench as he thought that he is not in a good enough shape to start. Therefore right-back Stefan Ristovski was the captain in this game. He played in defense together with LB Kire Ristevski and the central backs Velkovski and Musliu. In defensive midfield there were Ademi and Nikolov with Bardhi in front of them as an AMC. Elmas played on the left wing, Aioski on the other side, whereas Nestorovski started at CF.
The game was on a very low level from the first minute, it was obvious that both teams were far away from top shape due to the Corona break. Nevertheless Macedonia opened the score already in the 5th minute. Elmas was fouled in the box and Alioski was the man to convert the penalty.
In the 38th minute it was again Elmas who was fouled in the box, this time Nestorovski successfully converted.
In the second half the coach introduced Pandev, Spirovski and Trajkovski, but it didn’t change a lot. For the hosts former Vardar player Barseghyan entered the pitch and the athletic winger was able to bring some pain to our defense.
In the 4th minute of stoppage time the visitors netted through a penalty converted by the before mentioned Barseghyan, before Velkovski fouled an opponent in the box.
The game was over shortly after that penalty, so Armenia hadn’t another opportunity to equalize the score.
In the end a disappointing game to watch, but big three points from the opener of the new season. Hopefully this will help to achieve another positive result in the upcoming game away to Georgia on the 8th of September.