FC Vardar Skopje 0-2 Shkendija Tetovo: Shkendija Dominate Macedonian Derby

Shkendija Tetovo delivered a commanding away performance to defeat FC Vardar Skopje 2-0 in the North Macedonia First Football League on 9 August 2026. The victory in the capital was built on a solid defensive display and clinical finishing, reinforcing Shkendija's status as one of the league's leading contenders.

Shkendija Take Control Early

From the first minute, Shkendija looked the more organised side, pressing Vardar high up the pitch and cutting off the supply lines to the home attack. Their pressure told in the 14th minute when a well-taken corner was headed home at the back post to give the visitors an early lead.

Vardar struggled to find their rhythm, with Shkendija's midfield dominating the central areas and dictating the pace of the game. The home side's best chance of the half came from a long-range effort that was comfortably saved, but they went into the break with just the one goal separating the teams.

Clinical Second-Half Strike Seals the Points

Vardar came out with more intent after the interval, pushing numbers forward in search of an equaliser. However, this left space at the back, and Shkendija exploited it perfectly in the 63rd minute. A rapid counter-attack ended with a composed finish across the goalkeeper to double the lead and all but end the contest.

The remainder of the match saw Shkendija manage their advantage with control and discipline. Vardar huffed and puffed but failed to create any clear-cut opportunities, with the visitors' defence standing firm to secure a well-earned clean sheet.

League Context and Takeaways

• Shkendija Tetovo moved level on points with the early league leaders, sending a clear message to their title rivals.
• FC Vardar Skopje suffered their first home defeat of the season and remain in the chasing pack, needing to find greater attacking consistency.
• The win extended Shkendija's unbeaten run against Vardar in recent meetings, giving them a psychological edge in the head-to-head record.

For the neutral observer, this was a polished away performance from Shkendija, who showed exactly why they are considered one of the strongest teams in the North Macedonian top flight. Vardar, meanwhile, will travel to their next fixture looking to bounce back and regain momentum.