The Old Skopje derby for the second time this season goes to Rabotnichki. In a very interesting match with three goals and one red card, the Club Hero celebrated a well deserved over the rivals Vardar.

photo by FK Rabotnichki: celebrating the first goal

Round 21 in the Macedonian top flight was opened today with a lone game, the 82nd Old Derby of Skopje. The other games will be played on Sunday at 14.00 CET.

Rabotnichki opened the derby furiously. After just two minutes of play Viktor Angelov found Colombian left back Sebastián Herrera Cardona in the box who with a header brought the lead for the red-white team. Just four minute later Angelov himself was the most concentrated in the visiting box and with a sliding tackle doubled the lead. It came on  a rebound after keeper Filip Gachevski saved a shot.

Vardar dominated the rest of the first half, but failed to score. Rabotnichki put on a defense wall of nearly all of its players and threatened from counter attacks.

Seconds after the break Russian attacker Maksim Maksimov failed to score from a great chance. Half-time substitute Dejan Blazhevski made a great assist to him, but the Russian hit the ball very badly and from three meters managed to miss the target.

Eventually Vardar got back in game with a goal in the 79th minute. Blazhevski took a corner kick finding Goran Popov in the box who headed the ball into the home net.

In the 87th minute Rabotnichki was left without their first choice keeper Daniel Bozhinovski. A very harsh decision by the referee Stavrev. Bozhinovski saved a ball in front of Blazhevski who punched him with his leg and than pushed hum with his arm to what Bozhinovski reacted by also pushing him. The referee awarded Blazhevski a yellow card, but a direct red card for the keeper.

19-year-old reserve keeper Risto Jankov stepped in to fill the keeper position. Six minutes of additional time were shown as there was a big break after the red card. Vardar failed to score an equalizer and eventually Rabotnichki celebrated a big win.

Highlights:

This was the 82nd derby encounter between these two. Rabotnichki recorded its 30th win, Vardar has two more, while 20 games have ended in draw. This statistic includes all official games since their first encounter back in 1951.

National Arena Philip II of Macedon in Skopje
Rabotnichki – Vardar 2:1 (2:0)
Goals: 2′ Sebastián Herrera Cardona, 6′ Viktor Angelov – 79′ Goran Popov
Rabotnichki: 1. Bozhinovski; 6. Herrera, 4. Mitrev, 55. Krasniqi, 27. Raso; 22. Asani, 24. Trajchevski (C), 10. Stjepanovikj, 26. Lazarov (89. 12. Jankov); 99. Angelov (67′ 9. Duranski), 21. Kirovski (55′ 9. Chinedu).
Vardar: 90. Gachevski; 32. Glishikj, 3. Popov, 21. Novak, 30. Todorovski (46′ 88. Cvetanovski); 16. Gligorov (C), 5. Bitang; 70. Juan Felipe; 11. Barseghyan, 72. Maksimov, 24. Popzlatanov (46′ 9. Blazhevski).
Yellow cards: Bitang, Popov, Blazhevski (V), Mitrev, Angelov, Stjepanovikj, Herrera (R)
Red cards: 87′ Daniel Bozhinovski (R)
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (Skopje)

1.MFL 2017/18

Pos	Club	Pts	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD
1	Shkëndija	91	36	29	4	3	101	27	74
2	Vardar	56	36	16	8	12	53	41	12
3	Rabotnichki	52	36	14	10	12	50	43	7
4	Shkupi	51	36	13	12	11	51	46	5
5	Sileks	50	36	13	11	12	30	37	-7
6	Akademija Pandev	42	36	10	12	14	43	47	-4
7	Renova	41	36	10	11	15	36	53	-17
8	Pobeda (2010)	38	36	10	8	18	36	56	-20
9	Skopje	35	36	7	14	15	24	43	-19
10	Pelister	34	36	8	10	18	37	68	-31