League Play-Off

Христо Ботев
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Ingars Batarags kicked off to start the match. After 3rd play minutes Nikola Velev shot 0-1, a short shot which went by Alexi Pintev and just under the crossbar into goal. Alexi Pintev stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ingars Batarags's shot from short distance in the 8th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Ботев Пловдив's zone, Ingars Batarags stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Alexi Pintev came out of the goal and Ingars Batarags tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 16th minute Kliment Bachorski shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Genadi Tetevenski saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 17th match minute, Ботев Пловдив was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kliment Bachorski to maneuver through the defense. 19 minutes into the game, Mario Gramenov was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. BALZENA's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ботев Пловдив the free kick. Mario Gramenov hit a great freekick 19 minutes into the match. After having played for 20 minutes, Simeon Gornenski managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ботев Пловдив's supporters crossed their fingers, but Simeon Gornenski was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. BALZENA's Genadi Tetevenski played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kliment Bachorski in the 22nd minute of play. When Arhangel Savelev fell near the penalty area in the 23rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored BALZENA's protests and gave Arhangel Savelev a yellow card for diving instead. Arhangel Savelev hit a great freekick 23 minutes into the match. After 24 played minutes Ботев Пловдив got a freekick which was hit by Kliment Bachorski. Brunko Barakovski in the 26thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Genadi Tetevenski, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Alexi Pintev showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Arhangel Savelev, who was totally free with the ball in the 30th minute. BALZENA's Genadi Tetevenski proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 32nd minute of the match, managed to save BALZENA from getting a goal against them. 33 minutes into the match, BALZENA's goal looked a bit too open when Kliment Bachorski came free, but Genadi Tetevenski reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 36th minute Kliment Bachorski shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Genadi Tetevenski saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Kliment Bachorski was shown his second yellow card after 38 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. After a rather tough play, Ботев Пловдив's Kliment Bachorski got a free kick in the 39th minute. 41 minutes into the match, BALZENA's Ingars Batarags sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Alexi Pintev narrowly saved just below the crossbar. If Brunko Barakovski had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Iliyan Budinov charged in rather forcefully in the 58th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Iliyan Budinov the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Alexi Pintev made a fantastic save in the 60th minute, when Nikola Velev sent off a good shot on target. In the 67th match minute, Ботев Пловдив was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Miro Pechov to maneuver through the defense. 72 minutes in the game, Ingars Batarags fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Alexi Pintev having to interfere. Alexi Pintev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Arhangel Savelev in the 82nd minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Mavrudi Berberov during the 91st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Mavrudi Berberov kicked well hit freekick during the 91st minute of the match. After 94 played minutes BALZENA got a freekick which was hit by Chakúrov Trúnka. If Ingars Batarags had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When the match was over BALZENA could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Ботев Пловдив throughout the match.