NK Publikum Celje 1-0 Shkendija Tetovo: Late Drama in International Friendly

A solitary second-half goal was enough for NK Publikum Celje to edge past Macedonian side Shkendija Tetovo in an International Club Friendly on June 28, 2026. The match, played at 00:30, was a tightly contested affair with both teams creating opportunities, but it was Celje who showed greater composure in the final third.

Match Summary

The first half was a cautious encounter, with both midfields canceling each other out. Celje's Rok Buzeti forced a smart save from the Shkendija goalkeeper in the 22nd minute, while at the other end, visiting winger Ermir Lenjani curled a shot just wide of the far post. The 0-0 scoreline at half-time was indicative of the defensive discipline on display.

Decisive Moment

The breakthrough came in the 67th minute. A cross from Celje right-back Žan Karničnik was only partially cleared, falling to midfielder Aljoša Matko, who swept a first-time volley into the bottom-left corner. The goal was a reward for Celje's persistent attacking down the flanks.

Shkendija pushed for an equalizer in the final 20 minutes, with substitute Besart Ibraimi heading over from a corner. Celje's goalkeeper Matija Orbanić was alert to claim a dangerous free kick deep into stoppage time, securing the clean sheet.

Standout Performances

• Aljoša Matko (Celje): Scored the winner and was lively throughout, drifting into space between the lines.
• Žan Karničnik (Celje): Provided the assist and offered constant width on the right.
• Shkendija defense: Despite the loss, the visitors defended well for long stretches, particularly Egzon Belica at centre-back.

The friendly provided valuable minutes for both squads as they fine-tune tactics ahead of their respective league seasons. Celje will be pleased with the clean sheet and the ability to grind out a result.