Botev Plovdiv suffered a 1:3 defeat to Levski Sofia in the derby from Matchday 7 of the First League. The game was played at the Hristo Botev Stadium in Plovdiv.
More than 10,000 spectators in the stands witnessed one of the classics of Bulgarian football, which provided plenty of emotion right until the final whistle.
The Canaries started the game on the front foot and applied serious pressure in the opening five minutes. Levski responded with dangerous efforts from Oko-Flex and Sula, with Daniel Naumov forced into action to deny the former.
The game then became more evenly contested, with neither side creating particularly clear-cut chances. In the 27th minute, Soldo’s weak effort was comfortably saved by Vutsov, before Samuil Tsonov tested the Levski goalkeeper shortly afterwards, but he was once again equal to it.
The second half started with an early but highly controversial goal for Levski. In the 51st minute, Franklin Mascote was fouled and went down injured. The visitors played on and launched an attack, which ended with Aldair crossing for Grujic, and the former Liverpool player headed home to make it 0:1.
The goal was reviewed by VAR for an extended period, but for unclear reasons it was eventually allowed to stand, despite Mascote having suffered a serious cut to his leg. In the 56th minute, Botev came close to an equaliser, but after Mendes’ effort took a deflection off Grujic, the ball went just inches wide of the post.
Levski doubled their lead in the 59th minute. Serginho produced an impressive pass to Aldair, who advanced into the box and finished to make it 0:2.
Despite being two goals down, the Canaries received tremendous support from the stands and pulled one back in the 64th minute. Carlos Meoti delivered a corner, Asen Chandarov battled Vutsov in the air and headed home to make it 1:2.
The decisive moment of the match came in the 84th minute. Botev were awarded a penalty following a VAR intervention, but from the spot, Svetoslav Vutsov saved Asen Chandarov’s effort.
The resulting corner caused chaos inside the Levski penalty area, but Botev were unable to get a shot away. In stoppage time, Serginho once again demonstrated his quality, playing Reinaldo through on goal, with the Brazilian rounding Naumov and scoring the final goal of the game for 1:3.
BOTEV PLOVDIV: 29. Daniel Naumov (c) – 82. Vladimir Mendes, 87. Simeon Petrov, 4. Nikola Soldo, 27. Bryan-Anthony Hein – 10. Asen Chandarov, 77. Lucas Araujo – 66. Carlos Meoti, 19. Mauro Rodrigues, 90. Samuel Kalu – 13. Samuil Tsonov
Substitutes: 21. Nikolay Prandzhev (GK), 9. Chidera Okoh, 15. Bogdan Kostov, 16. Veliyan Vidolov, 17. Georgi Milanov, 20. Denis Awani, 22. Marvin Senger, 23. Dimitar Tonev, 28. Enrique Joku, 30. Franklin Mascote, 88. Chimezie Williams
Head coach: Stanislav Genchev
