Botev Vr 4 - 0 CSKA (367122974)

A scorching day at Botev Vr Arena, where 26905 spectators were in place for today's match. Quinten Delacotte was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Laurent Dubost and Ove Fjelblom. A 4-5-1 alignment was the formation of choice for Botev Vr. The following players took the field: Marzi - Popov, Petkov, Kamberov, Angelov - Grigg, Dziwisz, Petkov, Muñoz, Ugarte - Tuomi.

CSKA tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. They fielded: Contreras - Kokanov, Terezov, Teixeira Rocha, Popov - Faide, Alexandrov, Stoyanov, Krústevich - Hristov, Georgiev.

Botev Vr used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. It was an obvious ambition of CSKA to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. Botev Vr's M. Muñoz tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but couldn't get past the visitors' defenders. Botev Vr took the lead 6 minutes in, as H. Tuomi broke through on the left and put the 1 - 0 shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper. V. Petkov had a fantastic opportunity to put Botev Vr up another goal 20 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. D. Kovachev was called on to replace Botev Vr's I. Angelov after 23 minutes following a nasty collision. T. Hristov could have made it all square after 25 minutes, if only his free kick had been a few inches to the other side of the post. Things were deteriorating for the away team as Botev Vr scored another to make it 2 - 0 after a left side attack resulted in a goal for D. Kovachev after 29 minutes. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Botev Vr lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. 2 - 0 was the halftime score. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Botev Vr, with 69 percent of the ball.

S. Petkov left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 46 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. Y. Pavlov was the replacement. As usual, I. Ugarte tried to use his strength and hard work for the benefit of the team, but the heat hit him hard and he couldn't keep pace at all. Central attacks were the recipe of the day for Botev Vr, as they moved the ball from the wings to the middle with startling regularity. The visitors got a chance to pulling one back after 69 minutes, due to a defensive blunder leaving D. Stoyanov completely unmarked. His strike was pathetic though, easy prey for the home side's keeper. H. Tuomi wanted to play on, but the Botev Vr coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 70 minutes into the game by Z. Panayotov. Botev Vr managed to extend their lead to 3 - 0 when M. Muñoz cut in neatly from the left side and struck a fine shot past the away team's goalkeeper. A speedy charge from the left side of the field increased the lead of Botev Vr to 4 - 0 as W. Dziwisz finished it off competently, firing in from an acute angle. Botev Vr players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. Botev Vr enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 68 percent of possession.

Botev Vr's best player was Y. Pavlov. L. Grigg was a disappointment, however. K. Krústevich performed admirably for CSKA. However, J. Contreras made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 4 - 0.