Rudnik 5 - 0 Botunya (382686677)

3731 punters turned up at Georgi Genchev, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Hani Ibn-Amal was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Xavier Bouchet and Karri Tervala. A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Rudnik. They fielded: Vasilev - Kirilov, Katev, de França, Nedkov - Zíka, Martinov, Kołtun, Dziarmaga - Grajo, Chimev.

Botunya decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. The following players took the field: Manchev - Manov, Pashov, Lambadzhiev, Bisov - Grigorov, Dinkov, Nenchev, Stanyov - Dimitrov, Yamakov.

For their match strategy, Rudnik had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. V. Kirilov gave Rudnik the lead with a beautiful free kick after 27 minutes. 1 - 0! P. Kołtun's lack of experience almost gave Botunya a goal after 28 minutes, but the shot went right into the keeper's arms. Rudnik solidified their lead at the 30 minute mark, as S. Zíka dribbled the ball through the opposing central defence and scored to make it 2 - 0. 31 minutes into the game, Rudnik were awarded a penalty that V. Kirilov turned into 3 - 0 without a problem. By now, the players in Rudnik felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. Rudnik's B. Martinov got himself booked for a foul. B. Martinov unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide. It was 3 - 0 at the break. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Rudnik, with 76 percent of the ball.

Rudnik's M. Grajo's long shot really ought to have found the net 47 minutes into the match, but it fell just wide of the target. Cheers filled the stadium as B. Martinov broke through the visitors' central defence to put away the ball to increase the lead to 4 - 0 to Rudnik. Rudnik managed to extend their lead to 5 - 0 when S. Zíka cut in neatly from the left side and struck a fine shot past the away team's goalkeeper. B. Martinov should probably have put his team up another goal after 80 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by M. Manchev kept the visitors in the game. The home side's B. Martinov came close to extending the lead 81 minutes into the game. His shot came in from the right hand side but M. Manchev managed to save it with an unbelievable reaction stop. Rudnik claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 81 percent.

The most dominating Rudnik player was without a doubt M. Grajo. S. Zíka was a disappointment, however. Botunya's best player was A. Grigorov. M. Manchev on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 5 - 0.