Fazli strike edges FYROM past the Faroe Islands

A first-half goal from Samir Fazli ended the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's 11-game wait for a competitive win as they overcame the Faroe Islands in UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group 4.

Boban Babunski's men were given a hard test by their visitors, but scored what proved to be the only goal of the game on 41 minutes. De Graafschap's Abdula Dzelil put in an inviting cross from the left and striker Fazli, who also plays in the Netherlands, for sc Heerenveen, directed his header just under the crossbar.

Gilli Sørensen fired wide early on for the visitors, and Filip Gacevski saved from Danial Lakjuni before FYROM got a grip on the game; Marjan Altiparmakovski had a shot fended away before Ilija Nestorovski fired just wide from Vladica Brdarevski's cross. Fazli put FYROM ahead before half-time, and Nestorovski should have made it 2-0 soon after the interval but missed the target.

Fazli's dismissal for a second bookable offence on 77 minutes heightened the tension, and it took fine saves from Gacevski, who denied Viljormur Davidsen and Jan Ellingsgaard, to preserve FYROM's lead.