Rabotnicki did it! 2:0 win away to Anorthosis and a step closer to the play-off for the Europa League group stage. Petrovik and Velkoski shocked the opponents who were favorites at least at home.

Rabotnicki played a solid first half in which Anorthosis was better and had few chances to score. The game started with a foul in the 1st minute when Pance Kumbev challenged Cristovão and was booked. Keeper Stole Dimitrievski made few saves, while the shots of Blagoja Todorovski and Ivan Nastevski missed the target. Also, Igor Stojanov got injured after a tackle by Jan Rezek and had to be substituted with Milovan Petrovik.

Right after the start of the second half, first Todorovski missed and than the home number 10, Nemanja Vučićević hit the bar. In the 64th minute finaly one of Rabotnicki players challenged Anorthosis’ keeper. It was Krste Velkoski who’s shot was saved by Dimitar Ivankov. Rabotnicki’s only second attemp finished with a goal as Milovan Petrovik scored in the 71st minute. Nearly ten minutes later Krste Velkoski cemented the win with a goal for 0:2. Huge win for Rabotnicki as Anorthosis was the favourite before the game.

The return leg will be played in Skopje on 4 August.

Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca, Cyprus
Referee: Harald Lechner (Austria)
Scorers: Petrovik 71′, Velkoski 82′
Red cards: /
Yellow cards: Tomašić 28′, Cristovão 31′, Laban 43′, Janício 76′, Kumbev 1′, Velkoski 34′
Anorthosis: Ivankov; Tomašić, Leiwakabessy, Sprockel, Janício; Laborde (58′ Angelov), Laban, Cristovão (83′ Sielis), Vučićević; Okkas (c) (71′ Jürgen Colin), Rezek. Manager: Stanimir Stoilov.
Rabotnicki: Dimitrievski; Lazarevski, Stojanov (38′ Petrovik), Kumbev, Bogdanovik; Todorovski, Vujčić, Velkovski, Nastevski (56′ Micevski); Manevski (c), Velkoski (89′ Petkovski). Manager: Goran Petreski.

Game highlights: