The Macedonian U17 national team, with a convincing 9:0 victory over Gibraltar, ultimately won second place in Group 2 and advanced to the elite phase for European Championship qualification, thanks to a better goal difference than Hungary, which lost convincingly to the Czech Republic in the final round of the qualifiers played in Strumica and Turnovo.
Macedonia was dominant over its opponent today at the Turnovo stadium, scoring nine goals, and the difference could have been double-digit if several more good chances had been taken.
The series of goals began in the 23rd minute when Mihajlovski "served" a great ball to the triple scorer Papaliski, who had no problems beating the opposing goalkeeper. 11 minutes later, Ljačka also joined the list of scorers. Solo breakthrough by Papaliski on the left side who passed to Ljačka, who beat Bonfante from the first. Two more goals by the end of the half. First in the 41st minute, Džangarovski assisted Mihajlovski who easily put the ball into the net, and in the penultimate minute of the half, Papaliski, after a cross from the left side by Mitrevski, fired a lukewarm but extremely precise shot for 0:4 at halftime.
In the second half, the scorers were even more in the mood for goals. In the 53rd minute, Cvetkovski "collected" a rebound and increased the score. Three minutes later, Dzhangarovski did his best in the penalty area for the sixth goal in the Gibraltar net. In the 61st minute, a penalty was awarded to Macedonia after goalkeeper Bonfante started over Dzhangarovski. The same player converted it into a goal.
Papaliski completed the "hat-trick" in the 68th minute when he beat the opposing goalkeeper with a 20-meter shot. The last goal was in the 89th minute by Mamouti, who managed to make the final score 0-9 from ten meters.
In the very next action, Macedonia could have scored a tenth goal, but they failed to execute an action in a situation where two people were alone with the goalkeeper.
U-17, EURO QUALIFICATIONS, FIRST PHASE
MACEDONIA – GIBRALTAR 9:0 (4:0)
Stadium: Kukush in Turnovo.
Referee: Dmytro Kubriak (Ukraine).
Scorers: Papaliski 23′, 44′, 68′, Ljačka 34′, Mihajlovski 41′, Cvetkovski 53′, Džanarovski 56′, 61′ (p), Mamuti 89′
Z. Cards: Cedomirski (M) – Bonfante, Drakes, Poggio (G).
MACEDONIA: Grchevski, Cvetkovski, Ivanov, Mihajlovski, Mitev, Mitrevski, Cedomirski (76′ Bajrami), Ljacka, Dzhangarovski, Mamuti, Papaliski.
Coach: Vladimir Kolev.
GIBRALTAR: Bonfante (70′ Avellano), Pecino, Kay, Haddad, Drakes, Soleci (59′ Ramirez), Lambias (70′ Barbara), Poggio, Omara (46′ Phillips), Martinez (59′ Bonnet), Rowbottom.
Coach: Victor Gonzalez.
RESULTS, ROUND 3:
GIBRALTAR – MACEDONIA 0:9
HUNGARY – CZECH REPUBLIC 1:7
TABLE:
1. CZECH REPUBLIC 3 3 0 0 22:1 9
2. MACEDONIA 3 1 1 1 11:4 4
3. HUNGARY 3 1 1 1 11:9 4
4. GIBRALTAR 3 0 0 3 0:30 0
