BITOLA, North Macedonia (Interstat) — Visiting Struga opened its First League season with a commanding 2-0 victory over rival Pelister on Sunday, defying pre-match projections in a derby clash at Stadion pod Tumbe Kafe.

The match, contested between two sides from North Macedonia’s southwestern region, was largely controlled by the visitors, who capitalized on a late first-half goal and a decisive finish in the closing minutes to secure all three points. The result handed Pelister a defeat in its season opener in front of its home supporters.

After a tense and scoreless opening 44 minutes, Struga broke through just before halftime. In the 45th minute, midfielder Marjan Radeski found the back of the net, giving the visitors a crucial 1-0 lead at the intermission and shifting the pressure squarely onto the hosts.

Pelister, playing at home, sought an equalizer in the second half but struggled to break down a disciplined Struga defense. The home side’s efforts to build momentum were consistently stifled, leaving them vulnerable to a counter-attack.

That decisive blow came with only three minutes remaining in regulation. Struga forward Hristijan Maleski sealed the victory in the 87th minute, scoring his team’s second goal to ensure the points would travel back to Struga. The late strike extinguished any lingering hope of a Pelister comeback.

The outcome was a statistical upset. According to Interstat’s pre-game analysis, the match was projected to end in a 1-1 draw. Furthermore, the organization’s ELO rating system had calculated Pelister with a 52.6 percent probability of winning the contest. Struga’s performance rendered those forecasts irrelevant with a display of efficient finishing and defensive solidity.

With the win, Struga begins its campaign in the North Macedonian First League with a perfect record. The club now has one win and no losses in the domestic competition. The loss for Pelister marks a disappointing start, as the Bitola-based club now stands at zero wins and one loss in league play. The records for both teams across all competitions mirror their First League standings after this solitary fixture.

The match was the first for both clubs in the 2025-2026 First League season, setting an early tone in the domestic campaign. For Struga, the away victory provides immediate momentum, while Pelister must regroup after failing to capitalize on its home-field advantage and pre-game favoritism.