Milestone win for Macedonians

Estonia and F.Y.R. Macedonia kicked off the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying campaign with a close encounter in Tallinn that was decided by visiting captain Goce Sedloski's goal 16 minutes from time.

Poom beaten
Sedloski secured the three Group E points with a close-range shot that wrong-footed goalkeeper Mart Poom after the Estonia defence had been unable to clear Vlade Lazarevski's dangerous right-wing cross.

Close call
Although F.Y.R. Macedonia dominated the first half, Estonia kept their composure and created the first chance of the game. Joel Lindpere sent Kristen Viikmäe through in the 12th minute, only for the striker to be stopped by Igor Mitreski's sliding challenge. However, the visitors served notice of their attacking threat, first when Ilce Naumoski had a headed goal disallowed for offside in the 33rd minute, then when Igor Jancevski tested Poom after a one-two between Goran Pandev and Naumoski.

Pressure told
Although the home side responded on the stroke of half-time, as Ragnar Klavan forced goalkeeper Jane Nikolovski into a fingertip save, after the restart the Macedonians continued to dominate. Goran Maznov put a free header straight into Poom's hands, before seeing another effort blocked by Aleksandr Dmitrijev. The pressure eventually told when Sedloski found the target, yet the hosts very nearly rescued a point. Deep into stoppage time, Andrei Stepanov's shot was miraculously saved by Nikolovski and from the resulting corner, Poom, who had joined the attack, headed over.