Slavia drew 2:2 at home against Botev Vratsa in a spectacular match of the first round of the football championship. "The Whites" made up for a two-goal deficit and before the break missed a penalty, executed by Ivan Minchev. Both teams finished with a reduced squad due to red cards for Levi Ntumba and Martin Petkov, BTA reported.
The guests took the lead in the 13th minute, when Vladislav Naydenov brought out a good Martin Petkov, who slipped behind the defense and beat goalkeeper Levi Ntumba. The goal was recognized after the intervention of the video assistant referees.
Just four minutes later, Daniel Genov crossed into the penalty area of the capital, where Martin Achkov shot wide of the goal.
Botev took a two-goal lead in the 24th minute. Martin Smolenski crossed from a corner kick, where Arian Kabashi scored from close range behind Ntumba.
In the 27th minute, Ivan Minchev took the ball into the visitors' penalty area and immediately passed to Yannis Germush, who was fouled by Milen Stoev. The technical midfielder shot into the side netting from the penalty spot and failed to bring the "whites" back into the match.
After the break, Slavia was the more active team on the field and reduced its deficit in the 50th minute. Yanis Germush passed to Roberto Raichev, who feinted Spas Georgiev and sent the ball into the net with a tight diagonal shot.
Just four minutes later, the team led by coach Zlatomir Zagorcic managed to equalize. Germush passed to Roberto Raichev, who again dealt with Georgiev and with a shot from the edge of the penalty area again left no chance for Dimitar Evtimov.
Seconds later, Vratsa could restore their lead after Vladislav Naydenov found Martin Petkov with a very good pass, and he fired a strong shot, but Ntumba managed to clear for a corner. Before the execution of the set piece, there was serious tension between Levi Ntumba and Martin Petkov. The two started pushing each other and received red cards from referee Volen Chinkov.
Immediately after that, Ivan Andonov stood in Slavia's goal, after coming in place of Denislav Alexandrov.
In the 70th minute, Emil Stoev crossed into the Botev Vratsa penalty area, where Yanis Germush headed it, but the ball went over the goal.
A shot by Kristiyan Stoyanov in the 88th minute hit the crossbar, and then a shot by Kristiyan Balov also missed the target.
In the additional eight minutes, the two teams failed to score another goal that would have decided the final outcome of the match.