The Macedonia national football team began its campaign in the new edition of the Nations League with a 0-3 defeat to Switzerland. The national team failed to withstand the quality of its opponents, who controlled the match throughout and deservedly secured a convincing victory.
Switzerland took the initiative from the very beginning and immediately put the Macedonian defence under pressure. Dan Ndoye was among the first to threaten, while in the ninth minute Zeki Amdouni had an excellent chance to give his side the lead. The forward entered the penalty area and, despite being surrounded by several Macedonian players, managed to get a shot away, but the ball went wide of the goal.
Amdouni was dangerous again in the 13th minute, but failed to find the target on this occasion as well. Macedonia responded three minutes later through Matej Gashtarov, who tried his luck from distance but was inaccurate.
The Swiss crowned their better start in the 22nd minute. Following a series of passes and pressure in front of Stole Dimitrievski’s goal, the ball reached Remo Freuler, who accurately placed it into the net from around 12 metres to make it 0-1.
The visitors did not sit back after scoring. On the contrary, they continued to attack, and Dimitrievski had to intervene following a shot by Manzambi. In the 27th minute, Macedonia were saved by the post: Dan Ndoye shot after another attack, but the ball struck the upright after Dimitrievski also got a touch to it.
Before the break, Dimitrievski kept Macedonia in the game once again. In the 39th minute, Johan Manzambi sent a precise shot towards the top-right corner, but the Macedonian goalkeeper produced an excellent save and turned the ball behind for a corner.
However, even Dimitrievski could not prevent the second goal. In the 42nd minute, Athekame delivered an excellent ball from the right, and Amdouni converted the chance first time without any major difficulty to make it 0-2.
A controversial situation followed immediately after the break. Following a challenge by Matej Gashtarov, referee Daniel Schlager initially showed him a straight red card. After reviewing the incident and following VAR intervention, the German referee changed his decision and sanctioned the Macedonian international with only a yellow card.
Switzerland continued to dictate the tempo in the second half. In the 64th minute, Dan Ndoye found himself one-on-one with Dimitrievski, but our goalkeeper reacted brilliantly once again to prevent another goal.
The third goal nevertheless arrived in the 74th minute. Zeki Amdouni beat Dimitrievski for the second time of the evening and increased the lead to 0-3.
The Swiss forward could have completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute, but Dimitrievski was equal to the task once again and prevented a fourth goal with a good save.
There was no change to the scoreline until the end, so Switzerland claimed the points with a convincing 0-3 victory, while Macedonia will have to seek its first positive result of the campaign in the continuation of the cycle, away in Ljubljana against Slovenia.
MACEDONIA – SWITZERLAND 0-3 (0-2)
National Arena „Todor Proeski“. Attendance: 15,000. Referee: Daniel Schlager (Germany). Scorers: Freuler 22′, Amdouni 42′, 74′ (Switzerland). Yellow cards: Ilievski, Bardhi, Gashtarov, Omeragić (Macedonia)
MACEDONIA: Dimitrievski, Ilievski (75′ Stojchevski), Musliu, Zajkov (56′ Meljici), Herrera, Gashtarov, Kostadinov (46′ Elezi), Bardhi, Elmas, Miovski (56′ Omeragić), Rastoder (46′ Mitrovski).
Head coach: Goce Sedloski
SWITZERLAND: Kobel, Athekame, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez (63′ Bricg), Jashari, Freuler, Rieder (76′ Sanchez), Ndoye (76′ Aebischer), Manzambi (63′ Sow), Amdouni (86′ Boteli).
Head coach: Murat Yakin
