Shkendija Arachinovo stuns Tikvesh in Kavadarci — 1-0

Shkendija Arachinovo defeated Tikvesh 1-0 in Kavadarci on August 15, 2026, claiming a landmark result for the club in the top division.

Match-winner early in the first half

Marko Simonovski scored the only goal of the game in the 27th minute after a well-placed cross into the area, heading home to give the visitors the lead. The strike proved decisive and delivered Shkendija Arachinovo their first victory as a First Macedonian Football League (PMFL) side.

The hosts began the match with high intensity and several early attempts, but two of their promising attacks were halted by offside flags. Referee Jovan Kachevski’s whistle saw Tikvesh press from the first seconds, and Renatinho had a good chance in the 15th minute that goalkeeper Stolevski turned away.

After conceding, Tikvesh pushed harder and introduced greater urgency, producing a spell of pressure before the break. The second half followed a similar pattern: Tikvesh attacking in waves while Shkendija Arachinovo remained compact and organized in defense. In the 54th minute Simonovski almost doubled the lead but could not convert a clear opportunity.

Tension rose in the closing stages when, in the 79th minute, Popzlatanov set up Visdom whose shot struck Stolevski’s crossbar. That moment summed up Tikvesh’s evening — committed and close but ultimately unable to find the equaliser.

The match finished 1-0. Tikvesh, which had won its first two league fixtures, suffered its first defeat; Shkendija Arachinovo celebrated a historic first top-flight win at the same Kavadarci city stadium where, two months earlier, the club had secured promotion to the PMFL.

Photo: press material from the event