Botev (Plovdiv) conceded 1:2 in their visit to CSKA 1948 in a match of the 35th round of the home championship. The “Canaries” took the lead in the result, but allowed a comeback and defeat after a goal in the last seconds of the match.
And in this meeting, Dusan Kerkez gave a chance to a large part of the team’s talented juniors. As many as nine players from Botev’s academy got into the group for the match. Kerkez himself returned to the touchline after serving a penalty.
The fans at the stadium in Bistrica had to wait a long time for the first goal opportunity in front of one of the two gates. In the 15′, Martin Sekulic headed in a cross from Faustas Steponavicius, but his shot went wide.
In 37′, the people of Sofia also tried their luck. Nikola Iliev shot from mid-range, however, flew wide of Matvei Igonen’s goal.
The cleanest situation for the “yellow and black” before the break was in the 41st minute, when the post saved CSKA 1948 from a goal. Sekulic’s shot beat the goalkeeper Petar Marinov, but never reached the net.
All three goals in the game came after the break. With the first accurate shot in the match, Botev opened the scoring. Christian Nwachukwu did it in the 50′, and for the 18-year-old Nigerian, it was also his first goal with the “Canaries” team.
However, in the last 15 minutes of the match, CSKA 1948 turned up the heat. A quarter of an hour before the end, first Igonen had to reflect a strong shot by Parviz Umarbaev.
However, Botev’s guard was helpless in the 81st minute, when Nedelko Pishčević, who came off the bench, jumped over Ehije Ukaki and headed the ball into the goal for 1:1.
It was he who brought all three points to CSKA 1948 in the final seconds of regular time. The striker scored again with a header, this time receiving a cross from a corner and thus made the final 2:1 for the home team.
A round before the end of the regular season, Botev occupies 9th place in the standings with 45 points from 35 games. However, the “Canaries” already have a guaranteed place in Europe after winning the Bulgarian Cup.
BOTEV’S STARTING LINE-UP: 32. Matvei Igonen – 4. Ehije Ukaki, 42. Ivaylo Videv, 79. Atanas Chernev, 18. Dimitar Papazov (82′ – 25. Dimitar Dikliev) – 28. Yannis Karabelyov, 3. John Emmanuel, 20 Antonio Perera – 14. Faustas Steponavičius (60′ – 29. Ilanda Kintuntu), 40. Kristian Nwachukwu (66′ – 17. Nikolay Minkov), 9. Martin Sekulič;
In the last round for the 23/24 season, Botev hosts Arda on Monday, May 27, at 8:00 p.m. The match will be more special for one of the most titled players in the history of the “yellow and black” Lachezar Baltanov, for whom this will be the last match for the first team of the “canaries”.
