CSKA and Shkendija ended 1:1 in the first test match of the "Reds" in Slovenia, sportal.bg reported. Debutant Teodor Ivanov opened the scoring for the Bulgarian team in the 60th minute, and in the 85th Krasniqi equalized for the North Macedonian champion.
The new coach of Sofia Dushan Kerkez bet on four young Bulgarians among the 11. These were Chorbadzhiyski, Tasev, Stoychev and the new signing Martin Sorakov.
The match started evenly, and the first shot came in the 7th minute, when a Shkendija player shot from about twenty meters out.
Ten minutes later, Sorakov feinted a North Macedonian player and fired a long shot from a difficult position over the goal.
In the 20th minute, CSKA could have opened the scoring after a corner kick. Vion crossed sharply, Cooper jumped over Shkendija's defense and from 5-6 meters with his head sent the ball inches past the left post.
In the 35th minute, the team from Tetovo created its first goal opportunity. Krastevski feinted a player in "red" and freed up space for a shot, but his shot from 7-8 meters was not very good and Busato caught it.
A little later, CSKA made a forced substitution. Young Bozhidar Petrov came in for Pinto.
After the break, a new team appeared in the game for the Bulgarian team. Among those who entered the game was the newest addition, Teodor Ivanov. The starters went to one of the neighboring fields for sprints before returning to the locker rooms.
The changes gave CSKA a positive impulse and in the 50th minute the "reds" had an excellent opportunity to take the lead. Then Iliev was left uncovered 7-8 meters frontally against the goal, but his shot with his left foot was cleared for a corner by a player in white.
The better play of the Bulgarian team in this part of the check materialized after an hour of play. Cordoba headed the ball, and former Loko (Sf) goalkeeper Boubacar Guy tried to catch it, but missed it in an elementary way. Ivanov took advantage of the mistake, scoring into the empty net, marking his unofficial debut with a goal.
A quarter of an hour before the end, Kerkez's players could have doubled. A good attack from the left ended with a cross from Sanyang, which found the uncovered Yulian Iliev. The youngster tried to score with one touch, but a defender who threw himself on the splits managed to prevent another goal by knocking it out for a corner.
This is how it came to the 85th minute, in which Shkendija equalized. This was done by Krasniqi, who scored with a spectacular shot outside the penalty area into the upper left corner of Orlinov.
CSKA - SHKENDIYA 1:1
1:0 Teodor Ivanov 60
1:1 Krasniqi 85
CSKA: 1. Busato, 4. Lapenya, 5. Delova, 6. Cooper, 15. Vion, 18. Pinto, 20. Stoychev, 29. Tasev, 16. Chorbadzhiyski, 28. Pitas, 35. Sorakov
Reserves: 21. Fyodor Lapouhov, 12. Marin Orlinov, 3. Seini Sanyang, 14. Teodor Ivanov, 33. Bozhidar Petrov, 13. Brian Cordoba, 19. Ivan Turitsov, 32. Dimitar Nikolov, 24. Julian Iliev, 73. Ilian Iliev, 77. Zyumyr Byutuchi, 30. Petko Panayotov, 45. Julian Gilov, 91. Yoan Bornosuzov, 36. Radoslav Zhivkov
SHKENDIA: 25. Amzai, 22. Ayeti, 5. Sake, 15. Fetai, 2. Trumtsi, 4. R. Ramadani, 28. Kaka, 38. Nuhia, 19. Krustevski, 29. Tamba, 9. Ademi