Holders Struga won with a late goals, wins for Shkendija and Rabotnichki, Besa 1976 debuted with a home defeat, Voska Sport almost surprised Shkupi, Pelister and Gostivar shared the points.

photo by Filip Zdraveski: view at Rabotnichki – Sileks

Champions Struga hosted Tikvesh in a super cup like clash. The holders needed a 89th minute winner to break the Cup holders defense and take the points. And what a goal it was as Burkinabé player Compaoré scored a beauty.

The top flight debutante Besa 1976 hosted title challengers Shkendija and recorded a defeat. A brace by Ademi in the opening 25 minutes blasted the newcomers, who managed to come back with a penalty goal before the break, just to see the score being raised to +2 when Shkendija returnee Ibraimi converted his kick from the spot after he was brought down by Imran Fetai. Ibraimi few days ago made a shocking transfer from Struga.

Sileks was the better team in Skopje against Rabotnichki but headed home empty handed. A stoppage time first half stunning goal by Jamaican international Daley secured the first points for the Club Hero.

Pelister returned to the top flight and in their first home match failed top bring joy to its fans. Gostivar was actually leading in Bitola thanks to a goal by Turkish international Potuk, also the team’s captain, with Pelister getting back in game in the dying moments before the break through central defender Ristevski after a mess in the box.

The most entertaining opening round match was the one between Shkupi and Voska Sport. That was not expected as Shkupi was big favorite with Voska Sport being seen as relegation favorite due to the poor summer transfers. Shkupi had the lead, but the visitors made a total come back taking a 1:3 lead. The hosts escaped a defeat with goal score in 86th minute and in the stoppage time, both by foreigners – a Senegalese and a Faroese. The goal by Edmundsson was truly a stunner.

The match that closed the opening round was played under floodlights in Strumica. Brera handled Vardar the first defeat, celebrating with 3:1.

All matches’ goals:

Gradska Plazha stadium in Struga
Struga – Tikvesh 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: 89′ Bassirou Compaoré
Referee: Dimitar Pileshkov (Shtip)

Gradski stadium in Gostivar
Besa 1976 – Shkendija 1:3 (1:2)
Goals: 35′ (pen) Remzifaik Selmani – 11′, 22′ Fiton Ademi, 62′ (pen) Besart Ibraimi
Red cards: 74′ (coach) Aleksandar Tanevski (B)
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (Skopje)

National Arena Todor Proeski stadium in Skopje
Rabotnichki – Sileks 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: 45’+3 Cristojaye Daley
Referee: Aleksandar Grujoski (Kichevo)

Pod Tumbe Kafe stadium in Bitola
Pelister – Gostivar 1:1 (1:1)
Goals: 45’+1 Aleksandar Ristevski – 36′ Alper Potuk
Referee: Stojanche Trpchevski (Kavadarci)

Boris Trajkovski stadium in Skopje
Shkupi – Voska Sport 3:3 (1:2)
Goals: 14′ Djemal Ibishi, 86′ El Hadji Gueye, 90’+2 Jóan Símun Edmundsson – 39′ Abdulhadi Jahja, 75′ Osei Clinton, 81′ Donart Ibraimi
Red cards: 90’+3 Amos Dadet (VS)
Referee: Vlatko Ilioski (Prilep)

Blagoj Istatov stadium in Strumica
Brera Strumica – Vardar 3:1 (1:1)
Goals: 3′, 53′ Đorđe Ivković, 77′ Ibrahim Olaosebikan – 29′ Goran Zakarić
Referee: Jovan Kachevski (Struga)

1.MFL 2024/25

Pos	Club	Pts	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD
1	Shkëndija	70	33	20	10	3	59	30	29
2	Sileks	67	33	19	10	4	57	19	38
3	Rabotnichki	56	33	15	11	7	38	21	17
4	Struga	51	33	13	12	8	41	37	4
5	Vardar	45	33	12	9	12	39	37	2
6	Pelister	39	33	10	9	14	26	38	-12
7	Shkupi	38	33	10	8	15	47	47	0
8	Tikvesh	34	33	7	13	13	25	33	-8
9	Brera Strumica	34	33	9	7	17	41	56	-15
10	Besa (DD)	33	33	9	6	18	34	53	-19
11	Gostivar	21	33	12	12	9	36	34	2
12	Voska Sport	-5	33	5	7	21	25	63	-38