The Macedonian national football team played a 0-0 draw against host Bosnia tonight at the Koševo Stadium in Sarajevo in front of packed stands and a wonderful atmosphere, as the team prepares to compete in the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
What we expected is what we got from this match. A cautious host who is playing and concentrating on what is to come, and Macedonia who is still being sought after with the new coach Goce Sedloski. Both with the squad and with the game obviously. We had our moments, but far from the fact that this is the best that Macedonia should play. We have another match ahead of us in Istanbul, against Turkey on June 1, so we will see if the "Rys" will show something more then, and if they will only avoid the situation of a "sparring partner" on the field.
The start of the match was as we expected it to be. The home team, with a relatively well-balanced squad, wanted to take the lead early, but did not, out of caution. Alajbegović shot in the opening minutes, and from Zajkov's block, the ball went directly into Dimitrievski's goal post. After Tahirović's shot in the 25th minute, Alajbegović again tried to the left but Dimitrievski reacted in time.
Miovski missed a one-on-one situation
In the 32nd minute, a catastrophic reaction from the home team. A simple pass instead of going into the field ended up in Rastoder, and the waste directly at Miovski's feet. Our striker, in a "one-on-one" situation, tried to lob Zlomislić and succeeded. However, the ball was not fast enough, so Radeljić saved our lead from the goal line.
Baždar did not do well in two situations
On the other side, Samed Baždar headed Dimitrievski's goal into the right post at the end of the first half. Just a minute later, the same player took advantage of Zajkov's mistake, took the ball, entered the penalty area, but was selfish and instead of passing, shot but was blocked.
A quiet second half with many changes
At the start of the second half, the home team made ten changes and played the rest of the match with a completely new lineup. We also made changes, Alomerović, Omeragić, and Anđeleski made their debuts for the A national team in this match.
Memic's shot wide of the goal in the 51st minute shook things up a bit, and then Demirovic tried somewhere in the middle of the half.
In the 80th minute, a direct free kick from the left, Shipkovski could not tame the tricky ball but only deflected it with his body, and fortunately for us, no one reacted dangerously enough for us to concede a goal.
Bosnia – Macedonia 0:0
Koshevo Stadium
Attendance: 30.000
Bosnia: Zlomislic, Dedic, Radeljic, Katic, Mujakic, Bajraktarevic, Tahirovic, Gigovic, Bazdar, Lukic, Alajbegovic
Macedonia: Dimitrievski (Shishkovski 60), Musliu (Manev 86), Velkovski (Serafimov 60), Zajkov (Fetai 46), Herrera (Alomerovic 46), Nikolov (Angelevski), Atanasov (Elezi 46), Jankulov (Churlinov 46), Miovski (Ristovski 60), Rastoder (Omeragic 46), Elmas (Alioski 70)
