Macedonia recorded the fourth victory in the fifth Nations League match after celebrating a lone goal win over Latvia.
photo by FFM: Serafimov scores the winner
Milevski opted for Stole Dimitrievski on goal, in the defense Ezgjan Alioski left back, Gjoko Zajkov and Nikola Serafimov as central defenders and Bojan Dimoski as right back, in the midfield captain Enis Bardhi and Isnik Alimi on the dental positions with Elif Elmas left and Darko Churlinov on the right, while Aleksandar Trajkovski and Bojan Miovski up front.
The Latvians had the initiative in the opening minutes before the match went égal. Besides a few unsuccessful attempts on both sides, no real chance was created. In the 23rd minute Elmas had to be substituted for Qamili as he picked up an injury on his right leg and spent the last few minutes playing in the back line. After the match Milevski revealed that Elmas already had the injury, but insisted to play.
Macedonia started taking control of the game play near the end of the first half, but the first real chance came in the stoppage time when Alimi was well served in the box by Trajkovski, fired from close range but Matrevics denied him.
After the break Macedonia started very offensively. Right after the second half kicked off, Dimoski had a good shot from the edge of the box that went inches above the crossbar. Two minutes later Alioski sent a low ball from the left into the box where Qamili missed an empty goal.
Eventually the dead lock was broken in the 57th minute. Trajkovski took a corner kick from the right sending the ball at the near post where Zajkov resent it at the far post where Serafimov put it in the net. Debut goal for the CB in his 19th appearance.
The winner:
In the dying moments Latvia went offensive trying to find an equalizer. Uldriķis managed to beat Dimitrievski on a header, but he was flagged for offside.
Macedonia confirmed the top in the Group 4 in League C of UEFA Nations League and got promoted in League B. The match against the Faroe Islands on Sunday will serve only for better ranking in the overall table that may give Macedonia a spot in the play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.