League Play-Off

Katonitsa Stadion
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The Pride of Merseyside's Dobrin Dishlyanov 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. 9 minutes into the match, CSKA Kapinowo's goal looked a bit too open when Dobrin Dishlyanov came free, but Matey Portalski reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mincho Salabashev recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 13th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Mincho Salabashev sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Dobrin Dishlyanov's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Matey Portalski read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 18th minute of play. After a rather tough play, CSKA Kapinowo's Doychin Punchev got a free kick in the 18th minute. In the 22nd minute, Mincho Salabashev made a precise shot to the right of Alexander Torlashki. The Pride of Merseyside's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Milyo Gelkov hit a great freekick 25 minutes into the match. With his leg Matey Portalski managed to avoid a goal in the 26thth minute, when The Pride of Merseyside's Lulcho Stratev fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. After some careless play in the The Pride of Merseyside defense, Slavyan Hrusanov kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Alexander Torlashki. The The Pride of Merseyside fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Alexander Torlashki should have stopped the shot. In the 34th minute Dobrin Dishlyanov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Matey Portalski saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Matey Portalski didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Lulcho Stratev went, in the 36th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-2 was the resulting score. Alexander Torlashki stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Slavyan Hrusanov's shot from short distance in the 41st minute. Doychin Punchev charged in rather forcefully in the 44th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Doychin Punchev the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 45th match minute, CSKA Kapinowo was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Doychin Punchev to maneuver through the defense. Lulcho Stratev sent away a hard shot on goal in the 47th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The The Pride of Merseyside players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. CSKA Kapinowo were winning 1-2.

Matey Portalski showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lulcho Stratev in the 51st minute of the match. 58 minutes into the match, The Pride of Merseyside's Lulcho Stratev sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Matey Portalski narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 60th minute of the match, Slavyan Hrusanov tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Alexander Torlashki saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Lulcho Stratev fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 61st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Matey Portalski having to interfere. 66 minutes into the match, The Pride of Merseyside's goal looked a bit too open when Slavyan Hrusanov came free, but Alexander Torlashki reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Elenko Nitzov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 70th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience was convinced that Slavyan Hrusanov's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Alexander Torlashki was relentless in the 72nd minute of the game. Doychin Punchev blasted a shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Alexander Torlashki having to make a save. Doychin Punchev fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alexander Torlashki having to interfere. Vanko Durin's late challenge caught a CSKA Kapinowo's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Vanko Durin helped the player get up and apologised. Vanko Durin kicked well hit freekick during the 81st minute of the match. Alexander Torlashki took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Slavyan Hrusanov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Mincho Salabashev got free with Alexander Torlashki in the 94th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. CSKA Kapinowo's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.