Macedonia disappointed by playing a 1:1 draw at home against Kazakhstan in the must win match.
photo by Matejcho: a duel between Nuraly Alip and Milan Ristovski
Coach Blagoja Milevski made few changes regarding the match in Belgium. He opted for Stole Dimitrievski between the posts, Andrej Stojchevski, Darko Velkovski and Gjoko Zajkov in the back line, Ezgjan Alioski and Bojan Ilievski as wing backs, Isnik Alimi and captain Enis Bardhi in the midfield, Elif Elmas and Bojan Miovski as wingers and Milan Ristovski up front. Visar Musliu, who was substituted in Ghent because of an injury, did not make the match day squad as he couldn’t even train with the team.
The beginning did not promise an interesting match and both teams fought without creating chances. Kenzhebek tested Dimitrievski in the 23rd minute, while Ristovski a minute later did the same with Seisen. The best chances came in the 34th and 35th minute for Macedonia. Alioski took a corner kick from right and Ristovski nicely tried to score on the first post, but Saisen saved for another corner kick. Alioski this time found Velkovski on a header, but Seisen again declined. The third corner kick for Alioski saw Ristovski trying once again, but without finishing.
The opening half ended goalless.
Milevski introduced Darko Churlinov and Tihomir Kostadinov instead of Velkovski and Miovski during the break. In the 52nd minute Ilievski perfectly served Ristovski in the box who fired, but Seisen saved. Two minutes later Dimitrievski went to catch a cross, but missed it, and Dinmukhamed Karaman scored on a bicycle kick.
The 61st minute was underway when Alimi found Bardhi in the box, the later passed it back to Kostadinov who fired, but missed the target.
Macedonia eventually equalized and from a free kick. In the 74th minute captain Bardhi took the long distance kick and score in the left upper corner.
The hosts pressed for a winner. Trajkovski had a shot 6 minutes from time, but did not fire as he wanted.
The goals:
Disappointing draw for Macedonia and with Belgium’s win at Wales the chances for the first place are practically lost. In November Macedonia and Wales will play each other for the second place.
Best player in the Macedonian team today was right back Bojan Ilievski, who plays for Struga in the domestic league. He never lost a duel, made several driblings and crossed many times.