Arsimi ground out a narrow victory against Bashkimi Kumanovo in the third round of the First League on Friday. The hosts secured the three points with a single goal, ending a run of poor form that had seen them lose four of their last five matches. To be fair, the visitors were in no better shape, sitting tenth with three points from six games.
The decisive moment arrived late when D. Contreras found the net in the 82nd minute. It was a quiet finish, typical of a game where neither side could find a rhythm. By then, the tension was palpable, though the crowd saw very little in terms of clear-cut opportunities.
The statistics told a story of dominance without penetration. Arsimi controlled 58 per cent of the possession and registered five shots on target, yet they could only convert one. Bashkimi managed four attempts on goal, but the visitors simply could not hold every card when it mattered. It was a functional day for the hosts, even if the performance lacked flair.
Discipline was patchy on both sides, with three yellow cards shown in total. I. Olaosebikan and G. Doshev were cautioned early on, while M. Januzi picked up a booking near the end. The match also saw a flurry of substitutions, mostly in the second half, as both coaches searched for a spark.
The win moves Arsimi up to seventh place, keeping them in touch with the teams above them. Bashkimi remain rooted to the bottom half, but at least they have not lost since their heavy defeat to Tikvesh. And here's the thing about these lower-table clashes: sometimes a point is worth more than a performance.