The CSKA team ended the playoff phase of the First League championship with a crushing 4:0 victory as a guest of Botev (Plovdiv). Stanislav Shopov, Ilian Iliev, Ioannis Pitas and Ivan Tasev were on target for the success of the “reds”, BTA reported.
The match could not change the positions of the two teams in the final standings, in which CSKA finished fifth with 65 points and will face fourth-placed Arda (Kardzhali) in a play-off for participation in the Conference League. Botev, on the other hand, ends the season in sixth place with 56 points.
The match at the “Hristo Botev“ stadium was the last for the “yellow-black“ coach Dušan Kerkez at the head of the Plovdiv team. Before the first referee's signal, the specialist was sent off with applause from the “College“ fans.
After just 20 seconds of play, Botev could have scored a goal. A dangerous shot by Ehicze Ukaki from the edge of the penalty area was, however, blocked by Ivan Dyulgerov. The guests responded with a precise strike by Stanislav Shopov from distance, which fell straight into the hands of Hans Christian Bernat.
In the 13th minute, Ukaki was found with a precise pass in the air behind Seini Sanjang and tried to finish with a header, but it was wide of the goal. A minute later, Marash made a weak shot on the ground, which could not hinder Dyulgerov.
In the 28th minute, the “reds“ took the lead in the score. Lumbard Delova sent a perfect long pass to Stanislav Shopov, who controlled it behind Jonas Tam and finished with his right foot for 0:1.
In the 40th minute, the hosts scored a goal, which was, however, disallowed. Petko Panayotov fumbled when moving into the center of the field, which allowed Baloyannis to take it with a twine at Delova's feet, and subsequently Ivelin Popov scored after an assist from Tribule. However, the chief referee Dragomir Draganov was called to review the situation with the help of the VAR system and judged that the Greek footballer's actions towards the guests' defender were dangerous and awarded a foul. Thus, the break came with a goal lead for the “army“.
The second half started with an inaccurate execution by Konstantinos Baloyannis from about 20 meters. In the counterattack, Bernat saved a strong shot by Ioannis Pitas from a small angle.
In the 51st minute, Alexander Tomas' players scored a second goal. The guests took advantage of a gross mistake by Jonas Tam, who lost in his own penalty area and Ilian Iliev increased the lead to 2:0.
In the 62nd minute, CSKA scored for the third time. James Eto‘o brought Ioannis Pitas behind Tam and the Cypriot national team elegantly overcame Bernat for 3:0. Eight minutes later, Georgi Chorbadzhiyski missed on an empty net after another striking inaccuracy by the “yellow-blacks“ when taking the ball out in front of his own goal.
In the 81st minute, Ivan Tasev shaped the final score after intercepting a cross from Ulaus Skarshem from the left - 0:4. A minute later, the former Pirin (Blagoevgrad) player could have made his team's victory even more impressive, but from a small angle he shot into the post.
Beroe (Stara Zagora) won its home game against Spartak (Varna) 3:1 in the last match of the second four of the First League championship. The two teams exchanged a quick goal in the middle of the first half. Leandro Godoy opened the scoring in the 25th minute, which actually won the top scorer award for the season, and Dimitar Mitkov equalized just two minutes later. Juan Carlos Pineda gave the hosts a new lead with a beautiful goal in the 43rd minute. Godoy converted a penalty in the 50th minute and made the final 3:1 with his 18th goal in the 2024/25 championship, writes BTA.
This was Beroe's fourth victory over this opponent this season. Starozagortsi remained in eighth place in the final standings with an asset of 49 points, while Spartak finished in seventh position with two points more.
Before the start of the match, Pavleta Rashkova received a special plaque for her debut as a side referee in the First League. Until now, only Hristiana Guteva has been the head referee, and Rashkova is the first lady on the sideline of a match in the Bulgarian football elite. The match began with a minute of silence in memory of Bulgarian football legend Kiril Ivkov, who passed away on May 24.
The hosts had more possession of the ball in the first fifteen minutes of the match and the game was mostly in Spartak's half, but clear goal opportunities were lacking. Daniel Ivanov entered the penalty area in the 18th minute and tried to overcome Ruben Rendeiro from a small angle. The Beroe goalkeeper missed the ball behind his back, but Juan Solomoni managed to clear it into a corner kick.
The two teams exchanged one goal each within two minutes. First, Leandro Godoy opened the scoring in the 25th minute, and immediately after the game resumed, the guests equalized through Dimitar Mitkov.
Leandro Godoy scored his 17th goal of the season, taking the lead in the season's top scorers' list. He took advantage of an excellent pass from Carlos Algara and sent the ball into the net from close range. When Mitkov scored, the ball was centered in the home team's penalty area, where Daniel Ivanov headed it and found the striker, who made no mistake in front of the opponent's goal, scoring with a shot from the air.
Alberto Salido fired a very strong and accurate shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 39th minute, but Spartak goalkeeper Maxim Kovalev managed to clear it. The ball again hit Salido, but the player in green was too inaccurate in the extra time. Juan Carlos Pineda gave his team a new lead in the 43rd minute. Alberto Salido advanced and brought the Dominican Republic international into the corridor, who feinted a Spartak defender and sent the ball into the top left corner of Kovalev – 2:1.
Spartak Varna again had the opportunity to equalize the score with its first attack after the restart. Dimitar Mitkov received in the penalty area and found Bernardo Couto, who immediately took a shot, but Juan Solomoni's intervention from the goal line prevented a second goal in the home team's goal.
Beroe was given the right to take a penalty in the 48th minute, when the ball was crossed into the visitors' penalty area, and there Pineda fell after contact with Deyan Lozev. Initially, referee Nikola Popov ignored the situation, but after VAR intervention, he examined the situation and pointed to the white spot for an 11-meter penalty kick. Leandro Godoy scored for the 18th time this season and the hosts took a 3:1 lead.
In the 69th minute, Bernardo Couto fired a precise shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Ruben Rendeiro deflected the shot, knocking it out for a corner. After the execution, Angel Granchov fired a shot from close range, but the goalkeeper again intervened perfectly. Until the end of the match, there were no serious situations in front of either goal. In this way, Beroe and Spartak (Varna) ended the season with a victory for the hosts from Stara Zagora.