The final will be played on May 15 Sesame Bulgarian Cup season 2023/24. In the weeks before the match, together with Sesame, we will tell you interesting stories related to the Bulgarian Cup tournament over the years.
Already 83 finals for the Sesame Cup of Bulgaria are in history, and the 84th is on the horizon. Own goals are not a common occurrence in the decisive matches that determine the winner of the trophy. Only 6 own goals have been scored in all 83 Cup finals. It is a curious fact that four of the own goals were scored in the Eternal Derby between CSKA and Levski. And what is even more curious is that out of these six own goals, four are in favor of Levski. The Blues, for their part, have scored one of these six own goals.
The first own goal in the Eternal Derby between CSKA and Levski in the final for the Bulgarian Cup – December 3, 1950.
The most unlucky of all was the first own goal that decided the battle for the Cup in 1950. Levski, then under the name Dynamo, faced the Narodna Vojska team, as the military team was called in those days.
On November 26, the match between the two teams ended 1:1 after extra time. The next day, November 27, Monday, the second final is played. It did not provide for extensions. It ends 1:1 again.
The deciding third final match is played on 3 December. In front of 30,000 spectators, regular time at the “Yunak” stadium ends without a goal, the referee Todor Stoyanov orders two overtime periods to be played. In the 97th minute, Borislav Futekov – Borsata from the army team drives the ball into his own goal – 1:0 and Levski triumphed with the cup and Stefan Gerenski became the first goalkeeper to score an own goal in the Eternal Derby.
Second own goal, but not of the same value
Levski lost 2:3 to CSKA Red Banner in the final for the Bulgarian Cup in 1964/65 …September 8, 1965. Slavia Stadium. 30,000 viewers. The Romanian referee Ritter brings out the teams of CSKA Red Banner and Levski.
CSKA Red Flag took the lead with goals from Nikodimov in the 4th minute and Tsanev in the 34th minute.
After the break, however, Ivan Vassilev – Tsapeto scored an own goal in the 65th minute in Stoyan Yordanov’s “red” goal. This unfortunate performance made CSKA’s situation worse, as eight minutes later Georgi Sokolov equalized from the penalty spot.
Towards the end, however, the army team also received a penalty, realized for 3:2 by the rookie Yanko Kirilov. The cup goes to “Army”.
“Happy anniversary!”
On May 8, 1998, CSKA celebrated its 50th anniversary. Just five days later, the Reds experienced one of the darkest days in their history. On May 13, 1998, CSKA lost 0:5 in the final of the Bulgarian Cup against their eternal rival Levski in front of 50 thousand spectators – that’s how many people gather for the last time at Match #1 in our country!
In fact, the Reds are in a final they shouldn’t be. But it is Levski who helps them. The Blues, who are in a fierce battle with Litex for the title, file a contest that throws Luchanlia out of the cup. It is because of an irregular card file of Radostin Kishishev…
The Army have been plagued by problems despite winning the double last campaign. In February 1998, the legends Hristo Stoichkov, Trifon Ivanov and Emil Kostadinov returned to the “Boris garden”, but they did not manage to fundamentally change the situation in the club. Mentor Georgi Vassilev-Gocheto has been replaced. In the first semi-final, Litex defeated CSKA “Army” 3:1, although Hristo Stoichkov came out with the captain’s armband for the hosts, who scored the honorable goal after a pass from Metodi Deyanov. However, Litex, led by Dimitar Dimitrov-Hero, was awarded a 0:3 official loss, and the rematch was not played at all.
Expectations for the final on May 13 are high. Right before the battle for the trophy in the “Boris Garden”, Hristo Stoichkov returns, but a few minutes before the start of the final, during the warm-up he is injured and sits on the bench
Already in the 14th minute, Levski took the lead – Doncho Donev crossed to the attacker from the second position Nikolay Todorov-Kaizera and the captain headed the goalkeeper Radostin Stanev – 0:1. CSKA misses to equalize through Zhabov, and Donev shakes the post of the “armies”. Emil Kostadinov does the same with a powerful shot after a foul, and then the “Reds” hit another post through Zhabov. This is how it gets to the 33rd minute, when Yordan Marinov breaks through the right flank and passes into the penalty area, where Georgi Ivanov-Gonzo deflects the ball in an attempt to stop it, and Alexander Alexandrov scores with a shot from the bottom right corner – 0: 2.
The start of the second part is dizzying. The best player on the field, Doncho Donev, took advantage of a misunderstanding between Stanev and Milen Petkov and knocked the ball past the goalkeeper. It bounces off the left side post, but then from the second attempt to add the “blues” winger sends it into the net – 0:3. The “Reds” are collapsing mentally, and a disappointed Stoichkov heads to the locker room. A fan in the stands starts taunting him, and true to his hot temper, Kamata immediately runs towards him. The suicide was prevented by Levski’s technical director Andrei Zhelyazkov and two policemen, who pushed Itso into the stadium tunnel.
On the field, Donev (he finished the match with a goal and 3 assists) passed to Georgi Ivanov in an empty net and Gonzo scored 0:4 in the 71st minute.
However, that is not all. A minute before the end, Doncho Donev crossed sharply in the penalty area, and the former player of the “blues” Georgi Yordanov-Lamyata hit his own goal – 0:5 in front of the desperate look of Rado Stanev.
“Happy anniversary!” echoed powerfully from the stands of the Vasil Levski national stadium.
The only own goal in the finals of the Bulgarian Cup between Levski and CSKA, which is in favor of the “reds”
There was also an own goal in the cup final in 2002, played at the Slavia Stadium. In the 31st minute, the goalkeeper of the Blues, Georgi Petkov, failed to intervene well and the ball went to the feet of the Serbian defender Dalibor Dragic, who sends the ball into his own goal.
After the break, however, Kostya Golovskoi, Georgi Ivanov – Gonzo and the Hungarian Peter Kabat bring the trophy to the “blues” with a 3:1 victory.
Heber and the Bulgarian Cup tournament – lack of attraction
The first “army” triumph
Levski’s “congratulations” for the 50th anniversary of CSKA and the mystery with the low doors
Meet the Lord of the Cup – Ješić’s apology, Plovdiv derby and Slavia – Levski
The final, which Levski supposedly won, but lost, and Nikola Spasov became the Admiral (VIDEO)
The cutest Levski Cup
One final for the Cup of Bulgaria – 4 promotions (VIDEO)
Levski’s first Cup and a double for history
Nikola Tsanev’s dance through Levski’s defense – CSKA again with a trophy after 9 consecutive titles and 2 years of drought
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