Macedonia’s national football team suffered defeat in Istanbul after Turkey recorded a convincing 4-0 victory in the friendly match played at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. The hosts were the better side throughout all 90 minutes and, with an aggressive approach from the outset, paved the way to victory.
The warning came in the opening seconds when Can Uzun hit the crossbar, and only moments later Turkey opened the scoring. Following a good cross from the right, Orkun Kökçü was in the right place and sent the ball past Stole Dimitrievski.
Macedonia tried to respond through Jani Atanasov, whose shot went wide of the post, but the Turkish side quickly scored again. Can Uzun got on the scoresheet this time with a precise long-range effort to make it 2-0.
The hosts continued to dictate the tempo in the remainder of the first half, while Ezgjan Alioski missed Macedonia’s best chance. Following an excellent move involving Eljif Elmas and Bojan Miovski, the left-back shot from close range, but Altay Bayındır made an outstanding save to prevent Macedonia from reducing the deficit.
Turkey continued their attacking play in the second half and scored a third goal in the 53rd minute. Following Can Uzun’s assist, Deniz Gül rose highest and headed the ball into the net to make it 3-0.
The final score was set around 20 minutes before the end. Following a fine move by the Turkish national team, İrfan Can Kahveci played in Yılmaz, who found the net for Turkey to make it 4-0.
The match settled into a calmer rhythm in the closing stages. Turkey comfortably preserved their substantial lead, while Macedonia failed to find an answer to the hosts’ strong performance and ended the match with a defeat.
TURKEY – MACEDONIA 4-0 (2-0)
Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul. Referee: José Luis Munuera (Spain). Scorers: Kökçü 2′, Uzun 16′, Gül 53′, Yılmaz 70′ (Turkey). Yellow cards: Fetai (Macedonia).
TURKEY: Bayındır (62′ Cengiz), Müldür (88′ Çalhanoğlu), Kabak (46′ Akaydin), Söyüncü (62′ Demiral), Elmalı (27′ Çelik), Özcan (62′ Tiknaz), Kökçü (46′ Ayhan), Akgün (46′ Kahveci), Uzun (62′ Simsir), Aydın (62′ Güler), Gül (62′ Yılmaz).
MACEDONIA: Dimitrievski (66′ Taleski), Despotovski (46′ Musliu), Zajkov (46′ Serafimov), Velkovski (46′ Churlinov), Fetai (46′ Manev), Alioski (66′ Nikolov), Atanasov (46′ Emini), Elezi (66′ Dodev), Elmas (74′ Rastoder), Miovski (46′ Ristovski), Omeragić (66′ Alomerović).
