Facing off for the first-ever time in a competitive H2H encounter, the visitors began on the front foot with Ezgjan Alioski forcing a fine save out from Mukhammedzhan Seysen. It did not take very long for Blagoja Milevski’s side to threaten the game’s opening goal once again.
First, Eljif Elmas’ long-range effort was expertly kept out by Seysen before the Kazakhstani shot-stopper produced an equally impressive save to repel Darko Churlinov’s strike from the tightest of angles.
However, the deadlock came close to being broken against the run of play shortly after the quarter-hour mark by Kazakhstan midfielder Galymzhan Kenzhebek, who managed to beat Stole Dimitrievski with a sublime strike but not the left-hand post.
Kazakhstan then started to put their foot on the gas with the game approaching the half-hour mark in Astana.
Yet to make a save in the match, Dimitrievski introduced himself into the affair with a brilliant save to prevent Askhat Tagybergen’s shot from hitting it in the top corner.
Despite the Hawks’ presence, Macedonia ruthlessly circled and caught their prey after 33 minutes. Recalled to the starting lineup, Trajkovski emphatically celebrated his return in fashion as he fired an unstoppable strike past Seysen to give the visitors the lead at half-time.
Following a relatively quiet restart to the game, the contest sprang back into life in the 58th minute, as Kazakhstan hit the woodwork for the second time through Maksim Samorodov’s long-range rocket. The hosts’ pressure continued not long after, with Dimitrievski smartly saving Nuraly Alip’s effort from a similar distance.
Trying to calm Macedonia’s nerves, Enis Bardhi forced Seysen into his first save of the second half. Ultimately, Macedonia held on to successfully build on their 1-1 draw with Belgium on Friday.
Macedonia now top Group J at least temporarily until Wales’ trip to Belgium later and will head into a three-month international break with eight points from their four matches.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan, who have never participated in a major international tournament since gaining its independence in 1991, remain in third position with just three points and will have a long way to go if they are to rewrite history.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Aleksandar Trajkovski (North Macedonia)