The winner of the Bulgarian Cup Botev (Pd) started the new season in the First League with a 3:1 victory over Botev (Vr) as a guest, broadcasts BTA. At the stadium under Mount Okolchitsa, all the goals fell in the second half, with the Croatian Martin Sekulic (pictured) scoring twice for the winners. Another goal was added by Yanis Karabelov, and Daniel Genov was accurate for the hosts from Vratsa.
Absolutely nothing memorable happened until the break, with the only interesting moment coming in the 43rd minute, when Nikola Iliev from the visiting team sent a shot into the side post of Vracani.
The second half started on completely different grounds and the result was revealed already in the 54th minute. Christian Nwachukwu advanced down the left wing and sent a low cross to the back post where Sekulic swooped in from the second position to make it 1-0 to Botev Plovdiv.
Three minutes later, Nwachukwu fought off a Vracani defender for a ball kicked forward and managed to return it to Sekulic, who made no mistake a few meters to make it 2:0 in favor of the "canaries".
Botev Vratsa reacted almost instantly and in the 60th minute Daniel Genov reduced. The attacker was the first to reach a pass from deep and with a technical transfer shot he surprised the visitors' goalkeeper Matvei Igonen, who came out unread, for 1:2.
However, Botev Plovdiv quickly restored its two-goal lead. It happened in the 77th minute, when Yanis Karabelov intercepted the ball after a cross from a corner, with which he formed the final score.
The guests could have made their victory more expressive, but in search of his hat-trick, Sekulic made two incredible misses at the very end of the match.
First round matches in First League:
Black Sea - CSKA 1948 - 0:0
Krumovgrad - Slavia - 1:0
Loco (SW) – Arda 1:0
Loco (Sf) – Leviticus 1:6
Botev (Vr) – Botev 1:3
Today:
Ludogorets - CSKA-Sofia (21.15 Diema sport)
On Monday:
Heber - Spartak (Vn) (19.00 Diema sport)
September – Beroe (21.15 Diema sport)