Botev Plovdiv failed to defeat Lokomotiv Sofia and the two teams ended in a 1:1 draw. The match from the 1st round of the First League was played in front of over 5,000 spectators at the Hristo Botev Stadium in Plovdiv.
Today’s match started in the 5th minute, after yesterday’s match was abandoned. Upon his appearance on the pitch, Lyuboslav Penev once again felt the love of the “yellow-black” audience, who welcomed him with thunderous applause and chants.
In the 12th minute, Samuel Kalu’s shot from a free kick went over the crossbar. Seconds later, Tonev found Okoh, the striker took control, but from a clear position he shot straight at the goalkeeper and he saved.
The pressure continued with a miss by Asen Chandarov in the 15th minute, and in the 31st minute Martin Velichkov cleared the ball that was going under the crossbar after a header by Chidera Okoh.
The visitors came into their first danger in the 34th minute when Spas Delev shot dangerously diagonally into the outfield. Two minutes later, Botev squandered their clearest chance of the first half when Asen Chandarov was left face to face with the goalkeeper but shot inaccurately.
The second half started with an early goal for the visitors. Angel Lyaskov broke through on the left flank and put the ball on the head of Dimitar Kostadinov, who scored with a measured shot for 0:1.
In the 55th minute, the ball hit the post after a shot by Samuel Kalu. In the 63rd minute, Bryan Hein brought Chidera Okoh alone against the goalkeeper, but this situation was also ruined by the “Canaries”.
In the 69th minute, Carlos Meotti, who came off the bench, brought the crowd to their feet, but his beautiful shot was cleared by Velichkov. 4 minutes later, another shot by Meotti went inches wide of the post.
In the 79th minute, Carlos Meotti’s active play blew the thousands at “Kolezha”. The Portuguese footballer checked Martin Velichkov with a precise shot outside the penalty area for 1:1.
Seconds later, Kalu’s shot was blocked by Velichkov, who caught it on the second attempt. In the first minute of extra time, Meotti could have brought the victory to the “Canaries”, but from a clear position he headed straight at Martin Velichkov.
In the fifth minute of added time, the away team scored a second goal, but to the joy of all Botev fans, the goal was disallowed due to offside.
Botev Plovdiv: 29. Daniel Naumov, 4. Nikola Soldo, 20. Timothy Awany, 27. Bryan Hein, 14. Carlos Algarra, 16. Veliyan Vidolov, 23. Dimitar Tonev, 10. Asen Chandarov, 88. Chimezi Williams, 90. Samuel Kalu, 9. Chidera Okoh
