Shkendija won the double this season after claiming the Macedonian Cup tonight by defeating Pelister in the final match played in heavy weather conditions in Strumica.

photo by KF Shkendija: Armend Alimi joins scorer Visar Musliu to celebrate his first goal

This match was basically a replay of last season’s cup final when the same two teams faced each other at the same venue. back than it was Pelister who lifted the trophy being better on penalties after it was goalless for 120 minutes. For both this was the fifth cup final with Shkendija catching Pelister at the trophy table by winning its second.

Pelister’s manager Nedjat Husein had a lot of problems with the staring line-up having in mind that both first and second choice captains Goce Todorovski and Filip Milenkovski were out with injuries. His opponent Kjatip Osmani opted not to include Blagoja Todorovski, Ennur Totre and Alma Wakili in the team.

Prior to kick-off heavy rain and wind hit Strumica. The opening half an hour were played under harsh conditions that made problems for the players to control the ball and show their true skills. However, Shkendija seized one opportunity in the 20th minute to break the dead lock. Hasani took a corner kick and Musliu jumped higher than anyone in Pelister’s box to score with a header.

Just six minutes after the break and Shkendija doubled the lead. Bejtulai sent a ball into the box from right, Konjarski cleared the ball but only to reach Ibraimi who immediately fired a shot and beat Atanasovski.

Besart Ibraimi celebrates his goal while Diego Neres reacts; photo: KF Shkendija

The rain continued but the match officials did not interrupt the game despite the fact that the field became practically impossible for playing with lots of water on it. In the 63rd minute Marjan Radeski injured himself due to the pitch conditions and Shkendija was forced to make the first substitution.

In the 72nd minute again Hasani and Musliu combinated for another goal. The captain took a free kick and Musliu once again scored on a header to make it 3:0 and cement the win.

Click here to view the match report.

Shkendija became the fifth team to win the double in one season (league and cup). The previous winners were Vardar (1993/94 & 1994/95), Sileks (1996/97), Sloga Jugomagnat (1999/00) and Rabotnichki (2007/08 & 2013/14).

The trophy celebration; photo: KF Shkendija