News.ssport.net (Aug 20, 2003) - Macedonia inflicted a convincing 3-1 defeat on Albania as the two sides warmed up for their UEFA EURO 2004 qualifiers next month.

The home side's new coach, Dragan Kanatlarovski, made a winning return to the international stage. Kanatlarovski was in charge from 1999 to 2001 and had been handed a second chance at the job after Nikola Ilievski was dismissed last month.

The hosts dominated proceedings in this friendly international in Prilep, taking the lead with only nine minutes gone. Having started brightly, it was the dangerous Ilco Naumoski who broke the deadlock. Albania goalkeeper Foto Strakosha made a smart initial save from Goran Stavrevski's effort, but Naumoski showed his predatory instincts as he fired the loose ball into the empty net.

Things soon went from bad to worse for Albania. With just 20 minutes played, Geri Çipi was dismissed for unsporting conduct. The Macedonians began exploiting the gaps that their numerical advantage created and soon extended their lead. On 36 minutes, Georgi Hristov whipped in a good cross which midfield player Goran Pandev headed home from close range.

Albania clung on until half-time, and remained stubborn after the break. The visitors even succeeded in pulling a goal back on 74 minutes courtesy of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Ervin Skela. But three minutes later, the home side scored their third through substitute Draganco Dimitrovski and the game was won.

The result will come as a welcome boost to the hosts, who have no chance of qualifying for next summer's tournament in Portugal. They face England in their next Group 7 game on 6 September and are away to Slovakia four days later. Meanwhile, Albania, who only have an outside chance of reaching the play-offs from Group 10, must play Georgia away and home on the same dates.