Tikvesh and Arsimi opened the new, 35th edition of the First Football League of Macedonia with six goals at the stadium in Kavadarci.
Arsimi had the first chance of the match when Doshev intercepted a Tikvesh counterattack and fired over Stevkovski’s goal. The hosts threatened for the first time in the 15th minute through Laval, who shot from 18 metres, but also sent the ball over Siljanovski’s goal. Soon afterwards, Sila also tried his luck from 16 metres, but Siljanovski was secure in his position.
Tikvesh’s initiative was rewarded with a goal in the 19th minute. Following Doshev’s mistake, Wisdom set up Laval, who scored the first goal of the new season to give the Kavadarci side a 1-0 lead.
The hosts continued their pressure, and in the 22nd minute Wisdom had a chance to score a second, but shot wide of the post. The visitors responded two minutes later (24’), when Ramadani found Doshev, but he was inaccurate.
The punishment came in the 27th minute – Fode provided the assist, and Sila beat Siljanovski with a superb lob to make it 2-0.
However, two minutes later, the visitors pulled one back with a spectacular goal: Albin Ramadani sent the ball from 23 metres into the unguarded corner of Tikvesh’s goal to make it 2-1.
The visitors’ joy was short-lived. In the 35th minute, Laval capitalised on a mistake in Arsimi’s defence and scored his second goal of the match to make it 3-1.
The hosts did not stop there and reached a fourth goal in the 40th minute. The dominant Sila used his speed to get past defender Zuka and also scored his second goal of the match for a convincing 4-1 lead.
Arsimi threatened first in the second half, when Kaba shot from seven metres, but Stevkovski made an excellent intervention. In the continuation of the same move, Fisnik Zuka unleashed a powerful shot, but the ball went wide.
In the 52nd minute, Olaosebikan tried a shot from 23 metres, but was also inaccurate. Then Albian Ramadani had a great chance to score his second goal from just six metres, but defender Fal produced an excellent last-moment intervention.
The punishment for the visitors’ missed chances came in the 58th minute. The speedy Sila broke through Arsimi’s defence and scored his third goal of the match, extending Tikvesh’s lead to a convincing 5-1.
The hosts had a chance to score a sixth, but Luzininjo’s attempt went over the goal.
There were no further changes to the score until the end of the match, meaning Tikvesh secured their first three points of the new season with a convincing 5-1 victory.
