The team from Ludogorets recorded a solid 4:0 victory over Hebar Pazardzhik in the first semi-final clash of the Sesame Cup of Bulgaria. Rick Jonathan, Dinish Almeida and Spas Delev scored the goals for Razgrad, who are the current winners of the trophy. Jonathan scored twice in the first half, while Almeida and Spas Delev scored after the break.
The rematch in Pazardzhik is in a week, but the fact that Lubo Penev’s team failed to score a single goal tilts the scales seriously in favor of the people of Razgrad.
The winner of the pair will face the winner of the other semi-final between Botev Plovdiv and CSKA in the final. After the first game, Plovdiv have a lead of one goal. The second leg at the “Hristo Botev” stadium is on May 1.
The final in the competition is scheduled for May 15.
The two senior coaches Georgi Dermendzhiev and Luboslav Penev made some changes in their lineups compared to the match between the two teams for the championship a few days ago. After a long absence from the field due to an injury, Anton Nedyalkov returned to the starting line-up of the champions. Bernard Tekpetei also started as a starter, for whom there were mixed reports that he could miss the match due to health problems.
The match in Razgrad got off to a great start for the hosts, who needed only four minutes to open the scoring. This happened during the first slightly more dangerous attack of the “eagles”. Anton Nedyalkov found Tekpetei with a long pass on the edge of the box, the striker controlled and continued right to Son. The full-back immediately crossed into the penalty area, where a Heber defender failed to clear the ball well and sent it to the feet of Rick Jonathan, who easily sent the ball into the net from ten meters.
Despite the early goal, the hosts continued to attack massively and in the tenth minute, Bernard Tekpetei also had the opportunity to shoot at the visitors’ goal. He received on the edge of the penalty area, set the ball on his right foot and shot, but Deberliev was careful and kicked in a corner kick.
In the 21st minute, the “eagles” managed to double their lead, and the author of the second goal was again Rick Jonathan. The hosts’ multi-pronged attack was started by Bernard Tekpetei, who found Kwadwo Dua in front of the arc of the penalty area. He immediately saw Pedro Naresi to his right and combined with him. The ball was returned to Dua, who this time combined from the left with Piotrowski, the “green” midfielder saw the free Rick Jonathan, who scored his second goal of the match with a diagonal shot.
Shortly after the second goal of the game came Heber’s best chance of the game so far. Yohan N’zi excellently brought Atanas Kabov down the right, advanced and found Sheikh Senghor uncovered in the penalty area, who shot but missed the target.
Ludogorets responded almost instantly with a dangerous attack, at the head of which was Jakub Piotrovski. The home midfielder came face-to-face with the visitors’ goalkeeper, but his shot failed and went wide of the goal.
Five minutes before the break, Rick Jonathan caught the eye again. The home scorer made an impressive raid from nearly fifty meters down the left wing before combining with Dua, who was all alone in front of the penalty spot. The striker shot hard, but Deberliev kicked it out with his foot.
Seconds after play resumed after the break, Rick Jonathan was very close to his hat-trick in the match. However, his powerful shot from distance flew over the crossbar.
The score was still 3-0 in favor of the home team in the 55th minute when Dinesh Almeida headed home. After a cross from a corner kick, Pedro Naresi headed the ball into the goal area, where Almeida had taken a good position and fired just wide to make it a classic. The situation was examined for a long time with the help of VAR due to suspicions of an ambush by the “Eagles” defender, but in the end the goal was counted and the hosts increased their lead.
Ten minutes before the end of regular time, Spas Delev largely nullified the rematch with a fourth goal in Heber’s goal. Gruper broke down the left and crossed very well into the penalty area, where Tissera shot but sent the ball into Deborliev’s body. The leather ball ricocheted in Bozhidar Penchev, and then found itself in the path of Delev, who could not make a mistake from a few meters into an empty goal.
By the end of the match, the home team had several opportunities to score in Petar Deberliev’s goal, but luck covered the guard of the guests. In one case, even the beam turned out to be his faithful assistant.
FT • LUDOGORETS – HEBER 4:0
1:0 Jonathan 4′, 2:0 Jonathan 21′, 3:0 Almeida 55′, 4:0 Delev 80′
First 1/2-final, Sesame Cup of Bulgaria
Referee: Vladimir Valkov
Stadium: “Huvefarma Arena”, Razgrad
Ludogorets: 12 Simon Sluga, 3 Anton Nedyalkov (14 Deni Gruper 45′), 4 Dinis Almeida, 6 Yakub Piotrovski (18 Ivaylo Chochev), 7 Rick Jonathan (90 Spas Delev), 9 Kwadvo Dua (10 Matias Tissera), 17 Son (5 Georgi Terziev), 26 Sonko Sundberg, 30 Pedro Naresi, 37 Bernard Tekpetei, 88 Todor Nedelev
Reservations: 1 Sergio Padt, 8 Claude Gonsalves, 21 Rai Nascimento, 24 Olivier Verdon
Head coach: Georgi Dermendzhiev
Heber: 1 Petar Deberliev, 43 Joao Sesko (84 Stiliyan Tisovski), 33 Stefan Tsonkov, 21 Bozhidar Penchev, 75 Johan N’zi, 13 Arkhan Isuf, 8 Krasian Kolev (99 Georgi Karakashev), 7 Georgi Valchev, 77 Oktai Hamdiev ( 9 Nikolas Penev 45′), 11 Atanas Kabov, 29 Sheikh Senghor (14 Oleksiy Zbun 45′)
Reserves: 88 Martin Yankov, 10 Angel Bastunov, 3 Bogomil Bojurkin, 18 Ivan Dishkov, 17 Mark-Emilio Papazov
Head coach: Luboslav Penev
Tags: Ludogorets boldly final Sesame Cup Bulgaria fight Heber Football Sesame Cup Bulgaria
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