North Macedonia v Cymru
25th March 2025
Toše Proeski Arena
Before I talk about the game, I wish to dedicate this Match Report to my Dad, Michael Baker who passed away 19 years ago today. He would have loved the journey that the national team has taken us on over the last ten years.
After Saturday night’s win against Kazakhstan Craig Bellamy made three changes to the side. Chris Mepham, Jordan James and Nathan Broadhead replacing Connor Roberts, David Brooks and Liam Cullen.
Once the emotional anthems and tribute to the 59 young people who tragically died in the nightclub fire a couple of weeks ago were over, the game started off fast but slowed down around the ten minute mark. You could see Craig Bellamy’s game plan coming to life. The first half played out the same way as it did against Kazakhstan on the weekend. Cymru having most of the possession (65%) and four corners, yet never really threatened the North Macedonian goal. Apart from one Sorba Thomas chance that, on another night, might have led to a goal, or at least hit the target. Although it must be said that Thomas had an excellent first half.
The second half started brightly for Cymru, with Brennan Johnson getting a lot of joy down the left wing, but the final ball didn’t quite make it to any of the attacking Cymru players in the box.
The first big chance for North Macedonia came on the 65th minute, when Kieffer Moore lost the ball 10 yards inside the North Macedonian half. With a couple of quick passes they were on the attack down the left hand side with Eljif Elmas. His cross managed to find Darko Churlinov on the other side of the box, he chested the ball and on the half volley fired a shot on goal, which Karl Darlow managed to save.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt took another five minutes for Cymru to have a great chance. The ball seemed to bounce around in slow motion and finally made its way to Brennan Johnson whose shot was cleared off the line by Visar Musliu.
With the game creeping towards full time, Cymru had more and more possession but that final ball didn’t materialise. This was a match that Cymru should have came away with the 3 points, even though the final ten minutes were very nerve racking. Then, as normally happens in games like this, North Macedonia scored.
Joe Allen picked up the ball in the middle of the Welsh half and uncharacteristically passed the ball to no-one in red, only for Bojan Miovski to pick up the ball and slot the ball past Karl Darlow to score in the 91st minute.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut like I said in the last match report, this is a different Cymru. Where before heads would have gone down, this time they went for it making the most of the final minutes.
A long ball into the box was headed down by Kieffer Moore, Visar Musliu failed to clear the ball, sending it over his head to David Brooks. His shot found its way around Stole Dimitrievski in goal and through the legs of Bojan Dimoski into the empty net. The latest of equalisers, 95th minute. A massive point that could mean a lot at the end of the campaign. The game ended with a very rare piece of Cymru luck, things have changed and it’s still an undefeated Craig Bellamy leading the way!
Brooks, Brooks will tear you apart again!
Hope you enjoyed that finish Dad!
Words thanks to @StephenJBaker and photos and videos from James