Ludogorets beat Young Boys

Ludogorets achieved their first victory of 2025, and it is a very prestigious one – a 1:0 win over the Swiss side Young Boys. The goal was scored by Caio Vidal in the 90th minute. The mentioned team is a participant in the group stage of the Champions League.

It’s interesting that the captain, Anton Nedialkov, played as a right-back, a position he doesn’t usually occupy, as he traditionally plays on the left or in the center of defense. He had been recovering for a long time from an injury, but the worst part is now behind him. Both regular right-backs – Aslak Fonn Witry and Son – were absent. On the left, Ivan Yordanov, who is usually a midfielder, started. The highly sought-after Rwan started as a starter for Ludogorets.

The match in Belek started better for the Swiss, and in the 7th minute, Bonman intervened after a shot from Darian Malesh, but an offside was called in that situation. After that, Ebrima Koli reached the ball on the left after a deflection and looked for Malesh again, but the striker was beaten to the ball by Ivan Yordanov, who cleared it in front of the goal line for the Eagles. A minute later, Koli received the ball on the left again and took a powerful shot with his right foot, but Bonman made a spectacular one-handed save.

Ludogorets could have taken the lead in the 25th minute. Ericк Marcus crossed with an outside curl to Ivaylo Chochev, who headed the ball powerfully, but goalkeeper David Fon Balmoss made a difficult save, and then the ball hit the post. In the 39th minute, Georgi Rusev played a good pass to Rwan behind the defense. The Brazilian rounded the goalkeeper Fon Balmoss and took a shot, but a Young Boys defender ran back and cleared it. Ludogorets continued to press, and towards the end of the first half, Rwan shot – but it went over the bar. The Swiss managed to score on a counter-attack, but the goal was rightly disallowed for offside on the scorer, Dorian Malesh.

The second half started with an attempt by Rwan to chip the Young Boys goalkeeper from midfield, but it was unsuccessful. In the 59th minute, Ludogorets players appealed for a penalty for handball by a Swiss defender, but the referee decided there was no infringement.Ten minutes later, Sergio Padt made a good save after a dangerous cross from the right.

In the 87th minute, Aguibou Camara was left alone against the goalkeeper but missed, and an offside was also flagged. Then, Elisey Sarov headed the ball, but it was off target. The Swiss defense was broken in the 90th minute.  After a defensive mistake, 16-year-old Elisey Surov found Caio Vidal, who dribbled past a Young Boys defender and finished with no chance for the goalkeeper – 1:0!