NORTH MACEDONIA STUNS GERMANY IN WCUP QUALIFIER

Germany lost a World Cup qualifying game for the first time in 20 years Wednesday as the 2014 champion was beaten 2-1 by North Macedonia in Duisburg, Germany.

Germany leveled after Goran Pandev’s opening goal in first-half stoppage time but had no answer to Eljif Elmas’ 85th-minute winner for North Macedonia, which moved above Germany into second place in Group J. Armenia is the surprise leader as the only team to win all three games so far, after coming from behind to beat Romania 3-2.

“The fact is that that this obviously shouldn’t happen,” Germany midfielder Ilkay Gündoyan told broadcaster RTL.

Pandev opened the scoring when Germany’s defense completely lost track of the veteran Genoa forward. However, Gündoyan equalized from the penalty spot in the 63rd after Leroy Sane was brought down by Ezgjan Alioski.

North Macedonia could have had a penalty for apparent handball by Emre Can at a corner, but it wasn’t spotted by the referee. There is no video review system for qualifiers. Soon after, Timo Werner missed Germany’s best chance to go ahead, scuffing a shot badly wide when one-on-one with the goalkeeper off Gündoyan’s pass on the break.

As Germany pushed for another goal, it was North Macedonia which made the breakthrough. Arijan Ademi squared the ball through Antonio Rüdiger’s legs as Pandev drew away the German defenders, leaving space for Elmas to score past Marc-André ter Stegen.