League

Kirkova
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Ilko Randzhev started the match with the kick off. Slavcho Kúrpachev fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 6th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tencho Gergovski having to interfere. LEVSKI 1914's Tencho Gergovski played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lyuben Mehandzhiyski in the 9th minute of play. In the 11th minute, Nikolay Kaldarúmov left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The FC Kirkova fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. LEVSKI 1914's Tencho Gergovski played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kalin Belyov in the 22nd minute of play. Tencho Gergovski showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lyuben Mehandzhiyski, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Lyuben Mehandzhiyski in the 24th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Tencho Gergovski saved LEVSKI 1914 from getting behind. The audience thought a goal was coming when Slavcho Kúrpachev got free with Tencho Gergovski in the 25th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Tencho Gergovski made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lyuben Mehandzhiyski in the 27th minute of play. LEVSKI 1914's Tencho Gergovski proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 30th minute of the match, managed to save LEVSKI 1914 from getting a goal against them. When Nikolay Kaldarúmov fell near the penalty area in the 35th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored FC Kirkova's protests and gave Nikolay Kaldarúmov a yellow card for diving instead. After 35 played minutes FC Kirkova got a freekick which was hit by Nikolay Kaldarúmov. In the 43rd minute LEVSKI 1914 were awarded a corner. Ancho Múrhov went to the cornerflag to take it. It was a well-played corner which Avgustin Shanev managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. Slavcho Kúrpachev fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tencho Gergovski having to interfere. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Lyuben Mehandzhiyski was the one to do the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Slavcho Kúrpachev in the 53rd minute of play forced LEVSKI 1914's goalkeeper Tencho Gergovski to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Slavcho Kúrpachev sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 63 minutes into the match, LEVSKI 1914's goal looked a bit too open when Slavcho Kúrpachev came free, but Tencho Gergovski reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 65thth minute of the game Lyuben Mehandzhiyski who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but LEVSKI 1914's Tencho Gergovski was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Slavcho Kúrpachev sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Minko Kyurtev during the 72nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a defensive mix-up in FC Kirkova's zone, Ilko Randzhev stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ruslan Malev came out of the goal and Ilko Randzhev tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Lyuben Mehandzhiyski had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 83rd minute, Slavcho Kúrpachev managed to get in a good position for a shot. FC Kirkova's supporters rose to their feet, but Slavcho Kúrpachev was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tencho Gergovski breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 95 minutes of play, FC Kirkova's Kalin Belyov made it 3-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Tencho Gergovski was left in no man's land by his defense there! LEVSKI 1914's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.