Shkendija Arachinovo recorded their third win of the season thanks to Mehmedi’s goal, defeating Bregalnica away in Shtip.
The first half offered an entertaining game with numerous chances to score. Ivan Gligorov opened the series of chances in the 17th minute, after Stojkov’s assist, but his shot went wide of the visitors’ goal. Just two minutes later, at the other end, Selmani made an excellent run into the penalty area, but his effort was inaccurate and went wide. In the 22nd minute, Shkendija launched a quick counterattack, Selmani found Kerimi, but he failed to control the ball properly, allowing the home defence to react in time.
Just seven minutes later, Amir Nuhija unleashed a real rocket from 20 metres, but goalkeeper Jashar managed to tip the ball over the bar and behind for a corner. Bregalnica immediately responded through Maksimov, who shot from 18 metres, but the visitors„ goalkeeper, Stolevski, rose to the occasion. Gligorov then made an excellent solo run and finished just wide of the post, while in the very next attack Stojanov struck a superb volley from 17 metres, which the defence blocked and sent over the bar. In the 40th minute, Velkovski headed over the bar from five metres, while in stoppage time Adili produced a masterful chest assist and Vildan Kerimi unleashed a real “bomb” that went past Bregalnica’s post.
The visitors made the better start to the second half, with Nuhija threatening from a free kick 20 metres out in the 50th minute. The key moment came in the 79th minute when Matej Maksimov was shown a second yellow card, leaving Bregalnica with ten men. The visitors immediately took advantage of their numerical superiority. Ariton Mehmedi struck powerfully from 17 metres on the left, the ball deflected off one of the defenders and ended up in Jashar’s net to give Shkendija the victory. In the closing stages of the match, Enis Fazlagić was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for protesting to referee Karchevski.
