NEGOTINO, North Macedonia (Interstat) — Struga rallied from an early deficit with two second-half goals to defeat Vardar Negotino 2-1 on Tuesday in a Macedonian Football Federation Cup round of 16 match at Cvaj Arena.

The visiting side, one of the top clubs in the country’s First League, extended its perfect start in this season’s cup competition and advanced to the quarterfinals. Vardar Negotino, a lower-division opponent, was eliminated after a spirited performance that saw them take a surprising lead.

Against the run of play and statistical projections, Vardar Negotino struck first. In the 19th minute, Spas Delev found the net, sending the home supporters into a frenzy and putting the favored visitors under pressure.

Struga, which entered the match with a dominant record across all competitions, controlled possession but struggled to break down a determined home defense for the remainder of the first half. The pattern persisted after the break until the hour mark, when Struga’s quality finally told.

Boris Dimitrov leveled the score in the 59th minute, finishing a decisive team move to calm his side’s nerves. The equalizer opened the floodgates, and Struga took the lead just seven minutes later. Krasimir Stanoev scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 66th minute, completing the turnaround.

Vardar Negotino fought to find an equalizer in the final half-hour but could not breach the Struga defense a second time. The final whistle confirmed Struga’s place in the next round.

The result was in line with pre-match forecasts, though the path to victory was more complicated than anticipated. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a narrower 1-0 win for Struga, and its ELO rating system gave Struga a 91.30 percent probability of victory. Struga’s season record in the Cup of Cups competition improved to two wins and no losses. Vardar Negotino’s cup campaign ended with a record of no wins and one loss.

The match continued a stark contrast in form between the two clubs this season. Struga’s overall record across the First League and cup competitions now stands at 14 wins, one loss, and two draws, marking them as one of the most in-form teams in North Macedonia. Their recent cup form has been particularly explosive, including a 6-0 victory over Bashkimi Kumanovo just two days prior to this match.

Vardar Negotino, meanwhile, has found wins hard to secure. The team’s overall record for the season fell to no wins, one loss, and one draw.

Struga will now look ahead to a congested schedule as they continue to compete on multiple fronts. Their next match is a return to First League action on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, against GFK Tikvesh Kavadarci. They are then scheduled to face Shkendija the following day, Sunday, Dec. 7, in another league fixture. The club’s cup quarterfinal opponent and date will be determined by a later draw.

For Vardar Negotino, the focus shifts entirely to their domestic league campaign following their exit from the national cup tournament.