Aleksandar Trajkovski scored after half an hour of play and the Republic of North Macedonia defeated Kazakhstan 1-0 away to top the standings in Group J of the World Cup qualifiers, BTA reported.
The Macedonians are eight points and one more than Wales, who visit Belgium tonight.
The guests started well in Kazakhstan and missed several chances, but the 32-year-old Trajkovski, currently a player for Croatian Hajduk Split, sent an unsalvageable shot into the opponent's net. Before that, Darko Čurlinov and Ezdzhan Alioski made misses.
Kazakhstan, who have three points after a win over Liechtenstein and a loss against Wales, pressed after Trajkovski's goal and had 13 shots, but only hit the target three times. The goalposts saved the Macedonians twice, who are unbeaten after their first four matches in the qualifiers.
World qualifiers in the Europe zone, group stage matches:
Group I:
Estonia - Norway
Italy - Moldova
* Norway leads the standings with 9 points, followed by Israel with 6 and Estonia with 3. Italy and Moldova are without points.
Group J:
Kazakhstan - Republic of North Macedonia - 0:1
later today:
Belgium - Wales
* Republic of North Macedonia leads the standings with 8 points, followed by Wales with 7, Kazakhstan with 3, Belgium with one and Liechtenstein with 0.
Group L:
Croatia - Czech Republic
Faroe Islands - Gibraltar
* In the standings Czech Republic leads with 9 points, followed by Montenegro with 6, Croatia with 3, Faroe Islands with 0 and Gibraltar with 0.