Shkëndija continues in the Conference League after eliminating Bravo, while Vardar farewells Europe after a brave return leg defeat.

photo by Filip Zdraveski/MacedonianFootball: view at Shkëndija – Bravo

Vardar played his return leg first, on Tuesday. After another disappointing home performance, travelled to the Latvian capital with a 2:3 negative result. And Vardar again showed much better performance on the road. The Macedonian champion quickly score one goal when in the 17th minute David Babunski netter home.

However, just two minutes later Filip Najdovski was shown a direct red card for stopping a counter attack and Vardar was left with ten men and a 3:3 overall score. Vardar still managed to find a second goal as Azer Omeragić scored 8n the 66th minute, bringing Vardar an overall 4:3 lead. Riga was pressing hard as Vardar was defending with all players. Vardar was minutes away from a miracle, but Riga scored in the 87th minute through Abdulrahman Taiwo and the result got to 4:4 on aggregate, which ment going into extra time.

In the extra time Vardar had no more strength and Riga easily turned the result around scoring four goals. Vardar got eliminated, but at least won in the 90 minutes, which is important for the UEFA club coefficient.

Highlight:

Later on Thursday Shkëndija played its return leg against Slovenian side Bravo, who came in Skopje with a 2:1 lead from the first leg. The Tetovo based team was better in the opening twenty minutes, but it was the Slovenians who scored from their first chance with a powerful strike from Jakoslav Stanković in the 27th minute.

Shkëndija’s pressure eventually gave effect in the 36th minute when Almir Kryeziu sent a pass in the box where Jovan Gašpar scored an own goal.

Five minutes after the break Shkëndija tied the aggregate result (3:3) as Fabrice Tamba served Kryeziu in the box, whi headed home. Later in the 57th minute Ndzengue had a great chance but from just a few meters missed the goal on a header, sending the ball near the far post. Newly entered Marko Gjorgjievski fired a great shot in the 79th minute and hit the crossbar. The very next minute Tamba one on one with the keeper failed to score.

But Gjorgjievski didn’t miss the next chance. The 88th minute was underway when Alexander Trumçi sent a cross and he headed into Matjaž Rozman’s net for 3:1 and 4:3 on aggregate.

Highlights:

Shkëndija in the next round will face Scottish side Hibernian.