Pelister beat Pobeda in the most anticipated match of the opening games of the Macedonian football league on Sunday. Playing away in Prilep, the Bitola team won 2:1 with goals from Ive Trifunovski (24th minute) and Lucas (68th minute. The only goal for Pobeda was scored by Borce Manevski when he converted a penalty in the 51st minute.
In other games, Academy Pandev, which debuts in the first league, nearly beat Shkupi in an away game in Skopje. Doriev scored in the 77th minute to put the team associated with striker Goran Pandev in the lead. Fati Ismaili saved Shkupi and ended the game with a 1:1 draw when he scored in the 89th minute. In Kratovo, Sileks beat Skopje 1:0, souring its return to the first league.
On Saturday, Shkendija beat defending champion Vardar 2:0 in a game marred by Albanian nationalist chanting by Shkendija supporters. Rabotnicki and Renova played a goalless draw in the other game on Saturday.
