Macedonia suffered a second defeat in the new edition of the Nations League. Slovenia were better than our national team, winning 2-0 in Ljubljana.
Goce Sedloski’s side played an even first half, but once again failed to convert their chances. The Slovenians broke our resistance in the second half, scored two goals and secured victory and three points.
Sedloski made as many as eight changes to the starting line-up compared with the match against Switzerland. Macedonia were well organised on the pitch and managed to match the hosts for most of the first half.
Slovenia could have taken the lead as early as the second minute. Žan Vipotnik took a shot after the first serious attack, but the ball struck the crossbar.
Macedonia responded immediately. In the sixth minute, Agon Elezi found himself in an excellent position in the six-yard box, but his shot was blocked at the last moment and went over the goal.
The hosts took the initiative again around the 25th minute. Žan Karničnik shot after a well-worked attack, but was inaccurate. Vipotnik threatened again immediately afterwards, but Stole Dimitrievski was reliable in goal.
Macedonia had one more attempt before the end of the first half through Elezi. He shot from around 18 metres, but the ball went wide of the goal.
Slovenia were more dangerous again at the start of the second half. In the 48th minute, Daniel Šturm had a great chance, but shot wide.
Slovenia took the lead just seven minutes later. Following an attack down the right, the ball reached Sandi Lovrić, who unleashed a powerful angled shot into the far corner. Meljiki attempted to block the shot, but the ball changed direction after his intervention and ended up in the net.
After the goal, Sedloski responded with several substitutions. Enis Bardhi, Hristijan Maleski, Luka Stankovski and Bojan Miovski came on, and Macedonia began to search more offensively for an equaliser.
In the 78th minute, a good opportunity opened up after Luka Stankovski’s move, but there was no Macedonian player in the six-yard box to turn the situation into a shot.
Instead of an equaliser, Macedonia suffered another blow. In the 82nd minute, Slovenia launched a quick counter-attack, Aljoša Matko received the ball in an ideal position, went one-on-one with Dimitrievski and made it 2-0.
Macedonia could have pulled one back immediately. Three minutes later, Hristijan Maleski shot from an angle on the right, but Jan Oblak made an excellent save.
There was no change to the score until the end. After two matches in the Nations League, Macedonia remain without points and without a goal scored, while the negative run in attack continues.
SLOVENIA – MACEDONIA 2-0 (0-0)
Stožice Stadium. Attendance: 10,640. Referee: Andrea Colombo (Italy). Scorers: Lovrić 55′, Matko 82′ (Slovenia). Yellow cards: Matko (Slovenia); Stojčevski, Atanasov (Macedonia).
SLOVENIA: Oblak, Brekalo, Bijol, Drkušić (85′ Zec), Janža, Karničnik, Čerin (85′ Elšnik), Lovrić (71′ Zabukovnik), Bećir (71′ Matko), Šturm, Vipotnik (71′ Celar).
Head coach: Boštjan Cesar
MACEDONIA: Dimitrievski, Stojčevski, Meljiki (71′ Musliu), Mladenovski, Alomerović (80′ Miovski), Gaštarov, Atanasov (71′ Stankovski), Elezi (61′ Bardhi), Elmas, Mitrovski (61′ Maleski), Omeragić.
Head coach: Goce Sedloski
