Ludogorets defeated 2:1 Botev in Vratsa after an action-packed match and a goal in the last second. The champions are now six points ahead of CSKA in the overall rating.
The home team took the lead after the team captain - Marinov scored in the third minute. He outplayed Tekpetey.
The guests applied pressure and Despodov and Show both created strong goal situations, but missed. A defender from Botev made a mistake a created a shuffle. Kostov saved Santana’s goal attempt, but the Brazilian scored second later despite that. Next, Delev sent the ball above the crossbar. Sotiriou did the same seconds later, and Tekpetey almost scored as well in the 32nd minute.
Nedyalkov replaced Tekpetey during the halftime after six months of rehabilitation.
Ludogorets almost took the lead later when Delev’s goal attempt was nearly successful. Despodov and Nedyalkov both missed new chances to score. Sotiriou also missed a similar chance. Botev almost took the lead in the 63rd minute but Georgiev did manage to score after a ricochet. Santana and Sotiriou registered a couple of near misses. The coach Simundza sent Goncalves and Jonathan on the pitch. A penalty kick for Ludogorets was not registered by the referee Draganov despite the team’s plead.
Georgiev missed again from the corner. Verdon almost scored his own goal seconds later. Padt kicked the ball out after Vasilev tried to score. The referee Draganov denied Ludogorets another obvious penalty kick after Nenov played with his hand.
Despodov and Jonathan both missed a few chances to score next. Sotiriou scored in the 91st minute and left Kostov no chance to score. This was the player’s 15th goal this season.
BOTEV (VRATSA) - LUDOGORETS 1:2
1:0 Marinov (3')
1:1 Santana (16')
1:2 Sotiriou (90' +6)
BOTEV: Kostov, Nikolov, Nichev, Soares, Hristov (Ferareso), Georgiev, Baurenski (Gavrilov), Ivaylov, Marinov (70 – Vasilev), Nenov, Todorov (85 – Face)
LUDOGORETS: Padt, Santana, Despodov, Sotiriou, Kranicnik, Show (Goncalves), Verdon, Plastun, Tekpetey (Nedyalkov), Delev (Jonathan), Cauly
Yellow cards: Soares, Kostov (Botev); Show, Plastun, Delev (Ludogorets).