League Play-Off

zvco arena
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Leeds U.'s Svetlan Rinkov started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. 10 minutes into the game, Zivkovo's Panayot Matrov nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Radomir Gunchev made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. With a little luck, Zivkovo's Borimir Drenkov got control of the ball when Vihar Barutchiev tried to sneak it across the goal line. Zdravko Mitzilkov hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. With a little luck, Zivkovo's Borimir Drenkov got control of the ball when Vihar Barutchiev tried to sneak it across the goal line. After some careless play in the Zivkovo defense, Svetlan Rinkov kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Borimir Drenkov. The Zivkovo fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Borimir Drenkov should have stopped the shot. When Zivkovo's Panayot Matrov in the 24th minute got a chance for a shot 24th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Leeds U.'s goalie prevented a goal. Panayot Matrov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Radomir Gunchev didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Doychin Karatotev went, in the 35th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-3 was the resulting score. In the 39th minute Panayot Matrov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Radomir Gunchev saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Disappointed in the 1-3 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Doychin Karatotev made the kick off in the second half. Radomir Gunchev showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Doychin Karatotev in the 57th minute of the match. Borimir Drenkov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Svetlan Rinkov in the 59th minute of play. Vihar Barutchiev received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 61st minute. Borimir Drenkov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 63 minutes into the match, Leeds U.'s goalkeeper Radomir Gunchev had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Panayot Matrov. In the 64th minute Doychin Karatotev shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Radomir Gunchev saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Zivkovo's Panayot Matrov got a good chance for a goal in the 66th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 70th match minute, Zivkovo was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Georgi Skorchev to maneuver through the defense. Vihar Barutchiev sent away a hard shot on goal in the 73rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Yancho Randzhev hit a great freekick 75 minutes into the match. Kamen Kúrlev was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 76th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Svetlan Rinkov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 79th minute. Borimir Drenkov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 81st minute, Totyo Michkov hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 82 minutes into the match, Zivkovo's Boyan Karadimchev broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. In the 86th minute of the match, Doychin Karatotev tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Radomir Gunchev saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. After some fancy dribbling in the 89th minute, Doychin Karatotev managed to get in a good position for a shot. Zivkovo's supporters rose to their feet, but Doychin Karatotev was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Radomir Gunchev breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 96 minutes of play, Zivkovo's Panayot Matrov made it 1-4 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Radomir Gunchev was left in no man's land by his defense there! Zivkovo's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.