Ludogorets missed CSKA after a help from the judges

Ludogorets and CSKA drew 2:2 in the derby of the round and kept the status at the top of the First League. Referee Georgi Kabakov and the VAR referees helped the guests by not awarding a clean penalty at the end of the match for a foul against Igor Thiago. Thus, the Eagles continue to have an advance of only one point with three rounds to go, and the final of the championship remains open. The match itself was extremely high quality and attractive.

Ludogorets coach Ivaylo Petev preferred Tekpetey on the left flank and Nonato behind the striker, instead of Spas Delev and Todor Nedelev.

Ludogorets managed to take the lead with their first good attack in the 18th minute. Nonato made a long lead-off pass to Despodov, who easily outran Amos Juga, although the Reds' defender had a few meters ahead when the two started. Seconds later, Despodov technically sent the ball into the net past Busato. However, CSKA answered after only 4 minutes. At a long ball, Garces and Franco Russo jumped, the Argentinian somehow kicked back, the ball fell to Tobias Heinz, who with a great shot in the upper right corner did not leave any chances to Sergio Padt - 1:1. This goal was reviewed in detail for a foul on Garces in the one-on-one fight with Russo, and again nothing wrong was found and the decision was correct. Just three minutes later, the situation became explosive. In the 32nd minute, a foul for the home team on the corner of the penalty area could have given them the lead again. Despodov executed, there was a ricochet in the body of Stanislav Shopov, who changed the direction of the ball, but Busato stretched and kicked into the corner.

In the 42nd minute, CSKA achieved a complete turnaround after a spectacular error in the defense of Ludogorets. Verdon passed poorly to Piotrowski, Carreaso intercepted the pass, eliminated Padt with one pass and Mauricio Garces scored with a powerful shot despite Russo's split on the goal line. Thus, after a strong game, CSKA withdrew with a goal lead at the break. With it, Petev reacted with a triple substitution, bringing on Caio Vidal, Pedro Naressi and Igor Plastun. The Ukrainian replaced Russo, and Pipa and Piotrowski also came out. So Tekpetey played as a left back, and in front of him as a winger, Caio Vidal started to act.

Already in the second minute of the second half, Ludogorets equalized. Despodov crossed from the right, Igor Thiago outjumped Jürgen Matai and left Busato no chance. Ludogorets' scorer again had a chance to score in the 65th minute with a header from Tekpetey's cross, but this time his shot was not accurate. A minute earlier, the batter of the Reds Nazon appeared in the game instead of Shopov, while Ivaylo Petev released Shaw instead of Nonato. In the 84th minute, Ludogorets did not receive a clean penalty. Igor Thiago got away from Turitsov alone against Busato and when he was passing him he was touched by the goalkeeper and after the contact the striker fell. However, neither Kabakov nor VAR referee Vlado Valkov reacted to the obvious violation, which brutally damaged the Eagles.