SKOPJE (Interstat) — Vardar routed GFK Tikvesh Kavadarci 7-0 on Sunday at Nationala Arena Toše Proeski, extending its lead atop the First League in North Macedonia.

The home side raced to a four-goal lead by halftime. Stefan Cvetković opened the scoring in the third minute. Goran Zakarić doubled the advantage in the 25th, Darko Velkovski added a third in the 29th and Georgije Jankulov made it 4-0 in the 39th. Vardar added three more goals in the second half to complete the lopsided victory.

Vardar improved to 20 wins, 2 losses and 4 draws in league play, 25-7-6 across all competitions. Tikvesh fell to 11-13-4 in the First League, 12-14-4 overall. The loss was Tikvesh’s second straight defeat in league competition, following a 4-1 home loss to Shkendija on Apr. 17. Prior to that, Tikvesh had won 2-1 at Struga on Apr. 13. The team’s season has been marked by inconsistency; after a 2-2 draw at Bashkimi Kumanovo on Apr. 2, they suffered a 3-0 loss to Sileks on Apr. 7, then rebounded with a 6-1 thrashing of AP Brera Strumica on Mar. 20. Tikvesh also posted a 1-0 win over Pelister on Mar. 8 and a 5-0 victory at KF Arsimi-1973 Chegrane on Mar. 4.

Vardar entered Sunday’s match on the heels of a 4-0 defeat to Pehchevo on Apr. 25, but had earlier shown its offensive firepower with a 7-0 win at Shkupi on Apr. 18. The team’s league form includes a 1-0 victory at FK Rabotnichki Skopje on Apr. 11, a 4-3 win over Borec Veles on Apr. 9, and a 0-0 draw at Pelister on Apr. 8. Vardar also played to a 0-0 draw at Detonit Plachkovica and a 5-1 win at FK Makedonija Gjorche Petrov, both on Apr. 4. Overall, Vardar has been dominant in the First League, with only two losses all season.

Sunday’s result marked Vardar’s third consecutive win over Tikvesh this season. In their previous meetings, Vardar won 3-1 at home on Nov. 9, 2025, and 2-1 at Tikvesh on Aug. 15, 2025.

Tikvesh’s upcoming schedule includes a home match against KF Arsimi-1973 Chegrane on May 3, followed by a visit to FK Makedonija Gjorche Petrov on May 10, a home game against Pelister on May 17, and a trip to FK Rabotnichki Skopje on May 24. All are First League contests.

Vardar travels to Bashkimi Kumanovo on May 2, hosts Sileks on May 10, visits Struga on May 17, and hosts Shkendija on May 24.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 draw for the match, while its ELO system gave Vardar a 92.40 percent probability to win.