Macedonian national football team recorded a big win away in Vaduz with four different players getting on the scoresheet. It is the first win under new coach Milevski.
photo by FFM: Velkovski’s opener
Coach Blagoja Milevski opted for Stole Dimitrievski between the posts, Kire Ristevski, Darko Velkovski and captain Stefan Ristovski in the back line, Ezgjan Alioski and Darko Churlinov as wingers, Arijan Ademi, Stefan Spirovski and Elif Elmas in the midfield, and Aleksandar Trajkovski and Milan Ristovski up front.

The Macedonian starting XI; photo: FFM
Right from the start Macedonia took the possession and did not give it away throughout the entire match. It was obvious that Liechtenstein had opted for a bunker in order to finish the match with less goals possible in their net.
Milan Ristovski and Spirovski had good chance in the opening minutes, but both missed the target. In the 18th minute Trajkovski intercepted Elmas’ shot and put the ball in the net, but the goal was rightfully disallowed for offside. Later Elmas’ tried on a header, but missed the target.
In the 39th minute Trajkovski took a corner kick and served Velkovski who hit the far post on a header. The ball got to Churlinov who rushed to serve Ristevski, but the defender missed the ball. The ball then got again to Velkovski who with his right leg put it in the net to break the dead lock.
The first substitution in the Macedonian team was made at 61st minute when striker Bojan Miovski was introduced instead of Milan Ristovski, making his debut appearance.
VAR had to intervene in the 66th minute when Ademi was harshly hit in the leg by Meier, a foul that the Polish referee did not see. After watching it on the TV, he whistled for a penalty kick. Alioski stepped in and scored for 2:0.

Alioski takes the penalty; photo: FFM
Boban Nikolov and Stefan Ashkovski came in to substitute Ademi and Alioski in the 70th minute. Both are too important and have to be rested for Monday’s clash with Germany in Skopje.
Five minutes after coming in Nikolov made some good moves playing with the hosts defense and fired a shot past keeper Büchel making it 3:0.
A minute later Swedish born Erdal Rakip made his debut after coming in together with Gjoko Zajkov instead of Velkovski and captain Ristovski.
The final score of 4:0 was set in the 83rd minute when Churlinov made a solo run in the home box, tried to play a back-to-back pass with Rakip, but instead it was Hofer who gave him back the ball to them finish it.
Macedonia could have won by a bigger margin, but home keeper Benjamin Büchel had a good day and despite conceding four goals he should be proud of his saves.
Highlights:
In the other two matches in our group Germany with a 2:1 come from behind win defeated Romania, while Iceland and Armenia played a 1:1 draw.
Facts regarding this match:
- 268 players used as of today with debutantes Miovski & Rakip,
- 45th match for Stefan Spirovski.
- 35th match for Darko Velkovski.
- 25th match for Arijan Ademi.
- 11th goal for Ezgjan Alioski.
- 5th penalty goal for Ezgjan Alioski.
- 3rd goal for Darko Velkovski & Boban Nikolov.
- 2nd goal for Darko Churlinov
- 1st appearance for Bojan Miovski and Erdal Rakip.