Makedonija GjP joined Belasica as the second promoted team and champion of the group West. A stoppage time equalizer by Vlazrimi 77 against Gostivar allowed the Lions to celebrate promotion. Borec defeated Belasica to stay in race with Bregalnica for the play-offs.

photo: the Borec players celebrate the second goal

After losing the direct duel for the second place away to Bregalnica, Borec hosted already promoted Belasica and managed to get back in game with a win. With two beautiful free kick goals scored by Darko Jocikj and one from active play by Gjorgji Gjorgjiev, Borec stunned Belasica taking a 3:0 lead after only 26 minutes of play. In the 68th minute Borec could have celebrated a free kick hat-trick, but none of the referees saw that the ball ended behind the line. This was only the second seasonal defeat for the Strumica based team whose first was in Round 9 away to Kozhuf. They were also on a 9 match run without conceding a goal.

But since Bregalnica celebrated over Plachkovica in Shtip, the last round will decide which of the two will enter the promotion play-off. Next Saturday Bregalnica visits Belasica, while Borec travels away to Sasa. If Borec wins and Bregalnica play a draw, they will have equal points and the head to head record will break the tie. Borec is better thanks to the Round 12 2:1 win in Shtip.

East Round 26 results:

Gradski stadium in Gevgelija
Kozhuf – Sasa 2:1 (2:1)
Goals: 3′ Daniel Lazarovski, 4′ Rade Ristenski – 18′ Damjan Ivanovski
Red cards: 60′ Lazar Stojkovski, 74′ Slave Tanov (K)
Referee: Aleksandar Grujoski (Kichevo)

Gradski stadium in Shtip
Bregalnica – Plachkovica 2:0 (1:0)
Goals: 39′ Riste Naumov, 85′ Slavcho Velkovski
Referee: Igor Stojchevski (Skopje)

Gradski stadium in Veles
Borec – Belasica 3:0 (3:0)
Goals: 12′, 26′ Darko Jocikj, 20′ Gjorgji Gjorgjiev
Referee: Jovan Kachevski (Struga)

Gradski stadium in Kavadarci
Tikvesh – Osogovo 2:1 (1:1)
Goals: 2′ Sasho Shoposki, 75′ Robert Mitev – 17′ Pavle Petrov
Red cards: 88′ Nikola Stoilovski (O)
Referee: Kiril Smokvoski (Prilep)

Pobeda (V) was idle.

West leaders Makedonija GjP destroyed Gorno Lisiche and later celebrated promotion. Gostivar had a 2:1 lead away to Vlazrimi 77 and was close to a last round direct and decisive promotion clash with Makedonija GjP, but a stoppage time equalizer by Leonard Kalaba stunned the Gostivar players denying them a chance for direct promotion. Gostivar is second with a point ahead of today’s rivals Vlazrimi 77 and will still have to beat the Lions next Saturday in order to clinch the promotion play-off spot.

Both Teteks and Labunishta clinched three points and with Gorno Lisiche’s defeat the Vulpines will definitely end on the first position above the relegation zone. That means that they may get relegated if both Skopje and Pelister go down from the first league and the runner-up in this group fails to get promoted via the play-offs.

West Round 26 results:

Gjorche Petrov stadium in Skopje
Makedonija GjP – Gorno Lisiche 4:0 (2:0)
Goals: 21′ Kristijan Kostovski, 44′ Bobi Bozhinovski, 71′ Ivan Nastevski, 77′ Martin Hristov
Referee: Faton Mustafi (Tetovo)

Vlazrimi Arena in Kichevo
Vlazrimi 77 – Gostivar 2:2 (1:0)
Goals: 40′ Murat Adili, 90’+2 Leonard Kalaba – 64′ Florent Osmani, 80′ Ilirid Ademi
Referee: Albrim Shakjiri (Struga)

Gradski stadium in Gostivar
Struga – Teteks 2:3 (0:1)
Goals: 53′ Aleksandar Celeski, 65′ Flamur Tairi – 7′ Brilant Sulaj, 48′ Enis Dervishi, 70′ Meriton Saliji
Referee: Dimitar Pileshkov (Shtip)

Gradska plazha stadium in Struga
Labunishta – Lokomotiva 2:1 (2:0)
Goals: 9′, 28′ Pajazit Saliu – 58′ Antonio Bosheski
Referee: Furkan Idrizi (Tetovo)

Novaci stadium in Novaci
Novaci – Zajazi 1:1 (1:1)
Goals: 20′ Kiril Stepanovski – 29′ Fatmir Ramadani
Referee: Voislav Istatov (Strumica)