The first half started slowly, but seemingly sparked into life when Qarabag scored the opener in the 18th minute. The visitors were originally given a free-kick when Ronaldo Webster made a late challenge, but after a VAR review, it was upgraded to a penalty.
Qarabag had missed two spot-kicks across their prior three matches, but Toral Bayramov confidently stepped up and gave Baboucarr Gaye no chance of making a save, striking into the top corner from 12 yards - a relief after Qarabag had missed two penalties in their previous three outings.
Shkendija tried to respond immediately through Besart Ibraimi and Endrit Krasniqi, with both forcing Mateusz Kochalski into saves.
The contest became very end-to-end after those chances, as Kady Borges and Krasniqi shot just wide at either end, before Gaye made a great stop to deny Abdellah Zoubir’s effort, which was heading into the bottom corner. Kochalski was equally well at hand to stop another Ibraimi strike, as Qarabağ held onto a half-time lead.
Quality in the final third was at a premium following the restart, but it was Shkëndija who forced Kochalski into the first meaningful save when Fabrice Tamba latched onto a through ball before striking towards goal.
It was then Gaye’s turn to deliver heroics in the latter stages as he made a superb stop to deny Zoubir to keep his team in the contest.
Both goalkeepers were busy again before the final whistle as Ibraimi and Zoubir’s further efforts were saved, meaning Qarabag stretched their unbeaten record against North Macedonian opposition to six matches by taking a slender advantage into the second leg.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Toral Bayramov (Qarabag)