Metalurg joined Vardar Negotino in the third leagues with Teteks and Tikvesh avoiding relegation, that’s the outcome of today’s games in the last round this season.
The Macedonian second league ended today with the Round 27 matches. The schedule wanted Metalurg and Teteks to have a direct match for avoiding relegation in the very last round. With a point advantage and a game at home, Metalurg needed at least a draw to survive. But Teteks’ players were determined not to let their club drop to the third league for the first time in its history. And they did it. Savevski with a header early in the 8th minute scored for Teteks, a result that they managed to keep until the final whistle.
Tikvesh needed a win to cement a place for next season. They hosted the team of Turnovo for whom this game was just a training match since they failed to reach the promotion places and also secured a place for next season. Bakracheski broke the deadlock with a great solo run in the box, dribbling even the keeper before scoring. Near the end Lazarev scored a funny own goal making it 1:1, a score that could see Tikvesh getting relegated. Luckily, substitution Stojanovski quickly scored a winner.
Champions Akademija Pandev welcomed Skopje, the other promoted side. The game was more like a celebration match for both teams. Akademija Pandev for the first time in its short history will play in the first league, while Skopje got back after 6 seasons playing in the second league. Their match today ended in a 1:1 draw.
Relegated Vardar face Gorno Lisiche and recorded a farewell victory, only the 5th this season. The lone goal came in the injury time thanks to Danilov who found the back of the visiting net.
Vlazrimi 77 and Novaci played their match on Friday. It had zero importance as Novaci already booked a place in the promotion play-off, while Vlazrimi 77 escaped relegation. The visitors celebrated a 3:2 win scoring all the goals before the break. The hosts came back in game in the last ten minutes with two goals, but failed to add a third for a point.
Here are the final standings:
Promoted to First league: Akademija Pandev and Skopje
Promotion play-off: Novaci
Relegation to Third league North: Metalurg*
Relegation to Third league South: Vardar (N)*
*Keep in mind that the FFM have to confirm the relegation for this season. Next season the second league will expand to 20 teams with 10 in each group, while a 6th third league will be introduced so there will be many newcomers to both levels.
Top goalscorers:
20 – Zoran Baldovaliev (Akademija Pandev)
12 – Dario Desnikj (Skopje)
11 – Andrian Chavoli (Gorno Lisiche), Ljupcho Doriev (Akademija Pandev)
Round 27 results:
Metalurg – Teteks 0:1 (0:1)
8′ Igor Savevski
Tikvesh – Turnovo 2:1 (1:0)
10′ Naumche Bakracheski, 83′ Gorancho Stojanovski – 80′ (og) Igor Lazarev
Vardar (N) – Gorno Lisiche 1:0 (0:0)
90’+1 Vlado Danilov
Akademija Pandev – Skopje 1:1 (1:0)
41′ Ljupcho Doriev – 74′ (pen) Petre Vasilevski
Friday:
Vlazrimi 77 – Novaci 2:3 (0:3)
79′ Mrgim Dani, 85′ Agron Zekjiri – 5′, 44′ Antonio Stojkovski, 20′ Ilche Talevski