Total collapse after a goalless first half for the U17 national team who opened the Elite Round of EURO qualifications with a 3:0 defeat by Ireland.

photo by FFM: the U17s in October 2017

Macedonia defended well in the opening 40 minutes and prevented the fast opponents from scoring despite creating several chances.

The dead lock was broken in the 57th minute when Suad Jonuzi brought down Tyreik Samuel Wright in the box and Ireland was awarded a penalty kick. Striker Adam Idah successfully converted the penalty, giving Matej Andov no chance.

Only five minutes later the Irish doubled the lead through Sean Brennan and practically secured the points.

The Irish team before kick-off; photo: FAI

In the other game of this group host nation Poland played a 2:2 draw against Georgia.

Chrobry Glogów stadium in Glogów
Ireland – Macedonia 3:0 (0:0)
Goals: 57′ (pen) Adam Idah, 62′ Sean Brennan, 69′ Tyreik Samuel Wright
Ireland: 1. Clarke; 18. Connell, 3. Ledwidge, 5. Collins (C), 2. Murphy; 17. Wright, 6. Knight, 8. Coffey (70′ 14. O’Reilly), 7. Thompson (52′ 10. Parrot 74′ 15. Mceneff); 11. Brennan, 9. Idah.
Macedonia: 1. Andov; 18. Jankulov, 6. Jonuzi (73′ 2. Trpchevski), 5. Tasevski, 4. Mitrevski; 14. Skoko, 16. Todorovski (60′ 20. Vosha), 11. Hajdari, 10. Dauti, 7. Trpchevski (C); 19. Muharem (41′ 17. Tairi).
Yellow cards: Connell (I)
Red cards: /
Referee: Boris Marhefka

Miejski stadium in Legnica
Georgia – Poland 2:2 (2:1)
Goals: 9′ (pen), 28′ (pen) Zuriko Davitashvili  – 14′ Maik Nawrocki, 56′ Mateusz Żukowski
Red cards: 52′  Iva Gelashvili (G)

Current standings:

	M	W	D	L	GD	P
Ireland	1	1	0	0	3:0	3	to qualify
Georgia	1	0	1	0	2:2	1	may qualify*
Poland	1	0	1	0	2:2	1
Macedonia	1	0	0	1	0:3	0

*the 7 best runners-up of the 8 groups will qualify

Next round (24 March at 17.30 CET):

Miejski stadium in Legnica
Poland vs Macedonia

Chrobry Glogów stadium in Glogów
Ireland vs Georgia