The Macedonian national team achieved a convincing victory over Liechtenstein with 5:0 and returned to first place in the table in Group J with 11 points, after the fifth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Domination in every respect, an excellent performance and adding important three points to our balance.
Macedonia announced from the start that they were only interested in a convincing triumph. Elif Elmas performed magic in the 15th minute, stringing together four opposing players and finally beating goalkeeper Buhel with a diagonal shot from the left side.
In the final moments of the first half, Elmas threatened again, and Aleksandar Trajkovski also sent a strong shot, but the Liechtenstein goalkeeper managed to save it.
At the start of the second half, captain Enis Bardi threatened with a powerful shot, and the ball narrowly missed the crossbar. However, he managed to score and increase the lead to 2:0 in the 52nd minute, after Bojan Ilievski broke through on the right side and played a return ball for the captain.
Just four minutes later, Darko Čurlinov joined the scorers' list.
But that wasn't the end, as Lirim Qamili also scored for Liechtenstein in the 82nd minute. In the final moments of the regular match, Luka Stankovski also scored for a final and convincing 5:0.
Coach Blagoja Milevski made several substitutions towards the end of the match, and gave Elmin Rastoder and Reshat Ramadani the opportunity to make their debuts in an official qualifying match. Lirim Qamili, Milan Ristovski and Luka Stankovski also entered the game.
The next qualifying challenges for Macedonia are over the next month.
2026 World Cup Qualification, Round 5
MACEDONIA – LIECHTENSTEIN 5:0 (1:0)
National Arena "Todor Proeski". Referee: Horacio Fesnic (Romania).
Scorers: Elmas 15′, Bardi 52′, Čurlinov 56′ (M), Qamili 82′, L. Stankovski 90′.
J. cards; Ilievski (M), Obervaditzer (L).
MACEDONIA: Dimitrievski, Ilievski, Stojchevski, Zajkov, Alioski, Alimi (71′ Ramadani), Bardi, Elmas (82′ L. Stankovski), Čurlinov (59′ Qamili), Miovski (71′ Ristovski), Trajkovski (59′ Trajkovski).
LIECHTENSTEIN: Buchel, Malin, Traber (38′ Beck), Hofer (46′ Oberwaditzer), Wolfinger (61′ Meyer), Luchinger (A. Hasler), N. Hasler, Sele, Goeppel, Luque-Notaro, Saglam (75′ Netzer).
