North Macedonia’s all-time leading scorer and most capped player, Goran Pandev, scored the only goal of the match in the 56th minute to secure victory for his team in a tense and scrappy affair on a tricky pitch. Georgia, also vying for their first major tournament qualification, struggled to regain their composure after conceding and never posed a threat for the remainder of the game. North Macedonia will now face Austria, the Netherlands, and Ukraine in Group C at the postponed Euro 2020 tournament, scheduled for June-July next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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| Euro 2020 Playoff Final – Georgia v North Macedonia – Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia – November 12, 2020 Georgia’s Nika Kacharava in action with North Macedonia’s Egzon Bejtulai and Darko Velkovski. Photo: Reuters |
Coach Igor Angelovski expressed his pride in his team’s performance, stating, “We will play for our nation’s pride in the finals. Pandev scored a beautiful goal to take us through.” North Macedonia’s qualification through the fourth division of UEFA’s inaugural Nations League competition may be seen by some as an unconventional route, but the players are not allowing it to diminish their achievement. Pandev, who played a key role in the victory, expressed his happiness and credited his experience for helping the team succeed.
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| Euro 2020 Playoff Final – Georgia v North Macedonia – Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia – November 12, 2020 Referee Anthony Taylor shows yellow card. Photo: Reuters |
The match was characterized by a cautious and stop-start approach from both teams, resulting in few opportunities. Georgia’s playmaker, Tornike Okriashvili, tested North Macedonia’s goalkeeper with a long-range shot, while also sending another effort narrowly wide of the post. However, without winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was sidelined due to a positive COVID-19 test, Georgia lacked creativity in the attacking third.
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| Euro 2020 Playoff Final – Georgia v North Macedonia – Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia – November 12, 2020 North Macedonia’s Stefan Ristovski and teammates in action. Photo: Reuters |
The decisive goal came in contrast to the general scrappiness of the match. Eljif Elmas provided a clever assist to Ilija Nestorovski, who then found Pandev inside the penalty area. Pandev executed a deft flick to beat Georgia’s goalkeeper and record his 36th international goal. North Macedonia’s only real scare came from Okriashvili’s attempted cross, which nearly ended up in the top corner, but Dimitrievski managed to make the save.
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| Euro 2020 Playoff Final – Georgia v North Macedonia – Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia – November 12, 2020 Georgia’s Lasha Dvali in action with North Macedonia’s Stefan Ristovski. Photo: Reuters |
