From the outset, Macedonia controlled possession and was rewarded with a quick goal in the 8th minute through captain Goran Pandev. The lively Agim Ibraimi played a ball for the charging left-back Aleksandar Lazevski who then managed to find Pandev in the center of the area whose shot went between the legs of Danish defender Daniel Agger before reaching the back of the net for a 1:0 lead. For Pandev this was his 26th goal for the national team. In the 17th minute, it was 2:0 after a great individual goal by Ibraimi. Agim showed great dribbling skills to get past several opponents before firing a left footed shot from just outside of the box past the diving keeper Kasper Schmeichel. Macedonia then had the easiest chance of the game in the 22nd minute to extend the lead to 3:0, but Adis Jahovikj somehow missed a sitter from close range. Denmark was caught on the counter attack, Ivan Trichkovski showed unselfishness by drawing the keeper and then finding Jahovikj in front of an empty goal, but Adis hesitated for a moment and allowed the Danish defense to clear the danger for a huge missed opportunity. However, two minutes later, it was 3:0 after Trichkovski's free kick was headed home by defender Nikolche Noveski. That would prove to be the score at halftime as Macedonia played some of its best football to date.
