League Play-Off

Kushin
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Rusalka's Branimir Rabakov 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. After some fancy dribbling in the 8th minute, Bobi Noykov managed to get in a good position for a shot. Kushin's supporters rose to their feet, but Bobi Noykov was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rashko Dyukmedzhiev breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Zapryan Gavrilov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 10th minute. Rashko Dyukmedzhiev tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Bobi Noykov came up free with the goalie in the 11th minute, the Kushin fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Bobi Noykov couldn't finish the play. In the 20th minute Milyo Badzhakov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Plamen Kiselinchev saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Plamen Kiselinchev didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Milyo Badzhakov went, in the 22nd minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. When Rusalka's Branimir Rabakov 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 Kushin's goalie prevented a goal. Rusalka's Branimir Rabakov got a good chance for a goal in the 26th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Milyo Badzhakov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 31st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Plamen Kiselinchev having to interfere. Acho Buzin charged in rather forcefully in the 33rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Acho Buzin the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 33 played minutes Rusalka got a freekick which was hit by Acho Buzin. When the match clock showed 34 minutes, the score became 1-1 when Zapryan Gavrilov sped through Rusalka's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Rashko Dyukmedzhiev. Goran Boyov was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. If Branimir Rabakov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 45th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Plamen Kiselinchev showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Milyo Badzhakov, who was totally free with the ball in the 48th minute. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Bobi Noykov to make the kick off. In the 53rd minute of the match Encho Veskov sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Rashko Dyukmedzhiev skillfully saved the ball. Zapryan Gavrilov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 54th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rashko Dyukmedzhiev having to interfere. After having played for 57 minutes, Bobi Noykov managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Kushin's supporters crossed their fingers, but Bobi Noykov was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 65 minutes into the game, Kushin's Bobi Noykov nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Rashko Dyukmedzhiev made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. Zapryan Gavrilov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 75th minute. Rashko Dyukmedzhiev tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Bobi Noykov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Rashko Dyukmedzhiev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Zapryan Gavrilov in the 84th minute of play. The audience thought it was a sure goal in the 87th minute, when Rusalka's Igor Gelovski after having done a great run through the defense got himself free with Plamen Kiselinchev in Kushin's goal and fired away a shot, but it missed the goal by a fraction of an inch. Milyo Badzhakov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Plamen Kiselinchev having to interfere. Branimir Rabakov might have been able to make a better finish in the 93rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Plamen Kiselinchev. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Branimir Rabakov ran back to his position shaking his head. Plamen Kiselinchev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Branimir Rabakov in the 93rd minute of play. Milyo Badzhakov's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Plamen Kiselinchev read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 94th minute of play. Kushin were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Rusalka for a fine match.