League

Тодор Диев
Spectators: 7605 (Terracing: 5705, Seating: 1749, VIP seats: 151) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Genko Zhivankin kicked off to start the match. After a defensive mix-up in Спартак Пловдив's zone, Zhelyazko Pastirov stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Branimir Karadachki came out of the goal and Zhelyazko Pastirov tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Branimir Karadachki showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Genko Zhivankin, who was totally free with the ball in the 11th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 12th minute, Genko Zhivankin managed to get in a good position for a shot. Kurdzhalii's supporters rose to their feet, but Genko Zhivankin was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Branimir Karadachki breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Zhelyazko Pastirov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 14th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Kurdzhalii's Vergil Balabanski got a free kick in the 16th minute. Delyan Kazashki received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 19th minute. Karamfil Shivachev tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Karamfil Shivachev showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Svetlan Dzhidzhev in the 20th minute of the match. Branimir Karadachki took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zhelyazko Pastirov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The Kurdzhalii fans' excitement grew in the 26th match minute when Kurdzhalii's Genko Zhivankin looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. 32 minutes into the match, Kurdzhalii's Genko Zhivankin sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Branimir Karadachki narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Branimir Karadachki made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Genko Zhivankin in the 34th minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Genko Zhivankin in the 35th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Branimir Karadachki prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Zhelyazko Pastirov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. Branimir Karadachki tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Zhelyazko Pastirov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Svetlan Dzhidzhev to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 54th minute, Svetlan Dzhidzhev got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Branimir Karadachki made an important save on a dangerous shot by Zhelyazko Pastirov in the 64th minute. In the 66th minute Genko Zhivankin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Branimir Karadachki saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Karamfil Shivachev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Delyan Kazashki in the 67th minute of play. Pavel Ashkov hit a great freekick 68 minutes into the match. If Genko Zhivankin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 77 minutes into the match, Kurdzhalii's goal looked a bit too open when Svetlan Dzhidzhev came free, but Karamfil Shivachev reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After having played for 78 minutes, Delyan Kazashki managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Спартак Пловдив's supporters crossed their fingers, but Delyan Kazashki was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Zhelyazko Pastirov succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 0-2 in the 81st playminute. If Genko Zhivankin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 87th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 87 minutes into the game, Zhelyazko Pastirov cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-3. Branimir Karadachki was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Zhelyazko Pastirov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 91st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 93rd minute, Zhelyazko Pastirov fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. When Blagovest Dremsizov fell near the penalty area in the 95th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Kurdzhalii's protests and gave Blagovest Dremsizov a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Спартак Пловдив booed when Kurdzhalii was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 95 match minutes in a wonderful position. Blagovest Dremsizov didn't get a good kick on the ball. Kurdzhalii's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.