Botev Plovdiv secured a dramatic 3–2 victory over Arda Kardzhali in a match from the eighth round of the Bulgarian First League. The game was played at the Arena Arda in Kardzhali.
Мачът предложи много емоции за зрителите и в голяма степен повтори случилото се на домакинството срещу Спартак Варна преди няколко седмици.
The hosts started the game strongly and aggressively, and somehow failed to find an early breakthrough. In the second minute, Stanislav Ivanov missed a great opportunity from a clear position.
In the 12th minute, Preslav Bachev also squandered a golden chance, while seconds later Victor Popov’s shot was saved by Daniel Naumov. Following Arda’s strong opening spell, the “Canaries” pushed the game into the hosts’ half.
In the 20th minute, Samuil Tsonov won possession from an Arda player and calmly finished past Gospodinov to make it 0–1. In the 36th minute, Mauro Rodrigues played an excellent pass to Samuil Tsonov, who outran the defence and, much to the delight of the travelling Plovdiv supporters, scored his second goal of the night to make it 0–2.
The second half started with an early goal for the “Canaries”. Samuel Kalu delivered an excellent free-kick cross, Asen Chandarov beat his marker and headed the ball into the net to make it 0–3.
In the 59th minute, Mauro Rodrigues had a chance to score Botev’s fourth, but Gospodinov made a save from close range. Seconds later, Naumov denied a shot from Stasi Ivanov. In the 68th minute, Mascote’s diagonal effort went wide.
Then, in the 79th minute, Arda pulled one goal back. Atanas Kabov fired from distance, Naumov made the initial save, but Vyacheslav Velev followed up to make it 1–3.
The real drama came just four minutes later. David Akintola met a cross with a header and Naumov managed to intervene, but Antonio Vutov reacted quickest from close range and made it 2–3.
In the closing stages, the hosts tried to apply pressure and came close to an equaliser in the 89th minute, but Atanas Kabov’s spectacular effort went just wide of the post.
BOTEV PLOVDIV: 29. Daniel Naumov, 82. Vladimir Mendes, 4. Nikola Soldо, 87. Simeon Petrov, 27. Bryan Antony-Hein, 77. Lucas Araújo, 19. Mauro Rodrigues, 10. Asen Chandarov, 90. Samuel Kalu, 66. Carlos Meoti, 13. Samuil Tsonov
Substitutes: 1. Hristiyan Slavkov, 7. Nikola Iliev, 9. Chidera Okoh, 15. Bogdan Kostov, 16. Veliyan VidoLov, 20. Timothy Awani, 22. Marvin Zenger, 23. Dimitar Tonev, 28. Enrique Joku, 30. Franklin Mascote, 88. Chimezie Williams
