Botev Plovdiv defeated Lokomotiv Sofia 4:0 away in a match of the last round of the regular season in the efbet Liga. Ume Emanuel (19.42) and Dylan Mertens (65, 67) scored two goals each for the decisive success of the “railwaymen”. The “Canaries” were complete masters at the “Lokomotiv” Stadium and could have scored a few more goals, but Mohamed Brahimi, Jonas Tam and Samuel Akere distinguished themselves with misses. The visitors also recorded a record after recording a sixth consecutive game without conceding a goal in all competitions.
With the success, the “yellow and black” collected 44 points, the same as the sixth Krumovgrad, but the newcomers recorded two victories over Plovdiv during the season. Thus, the graduates of Dusan Kerkez will fight for the seventh place, which gives the right to play-off for participation in the League of Conferences. Lokomotiv remains in 14th place with 28 points, facing a tough battle for survival.
Botev could have taken the lead in the 4th minute. James Eto’o played a through ball for Samuel Akere. Bruno Franco and Alexander Lyubenov did not understand each other, which allowed the Nigerian to send a shot, which, however, went dangerously wide of the goal.
Two minutes later, the Canaries created another good opportunity. Mohamed Brahimi receives a pass from Dylan Mertens from the right in the box. The Frenchman broke free from Krasimir Stanoev and looked for the far corner, but the ball flew past the goal. Shortly after, Brahimi hit a mid-range shot again, with which he did not trouble Lyubenov.
The people of Plovdiv missed another excellent chance to score in the 16th minute. Konstantinos Balogiannis crossed from a corner, and the defense of the “railway players” missed Jonas Tam. The Estonian defender rose and sent a header that went close to the target.
Shortly after that, Lokomotiv could have taken the lead. The visitors’ defense did not intervene well after a cross from a free kick and the ball ended up in Carlos France. The Brazilian tried a shot on the move which, after ricocheting off Antoine Conte, went wide of the goal.
In the 19th minute, the better game of Botev gave a result. Dylan Mertens advanced through the center and passed to Balogiannis on the left. The Greek defender advanced and found Ume Emmanuel, who made no mistake from ten meters in front of the goal for 0:1.
In the 28th minute, the visitors organized a high-speed attack that ended with a very inaccurate shot by Samuel Akere. In the 40th minute, Kevin Mai punched Samuel Akere in the face, but the head referee Nikola Popov only showed him a yellow card. Shortly after, the Gabonese had a great chance to equalize after Franca continued the ball from a cross from a free-kick, but he shot wide of the goal from a few yards out.
In the 42nd minute, Botev scored a second goal. Dusan Kerkez’s alumni produced a great attack where Samuel Akere brought Ume Emmanuel alone against Alexander Ljubenov and the Nigerian coolly scored to make it 0-2.
At the beginning of the second half, the players of Lokomotiv Sofia took a few corners, after which they did not threaten the visitors’ goal.
In the 62nd minute, Martin Sekulic replaced Samuel Akere. The Nigerian faked an injury in order to delay time, thus forcing Nikola Popov to show him a yellow card. The official warning is his fifth and he will be banned for one match.
In the 65th minute, Botev scored a third goal after a great counterattack. Stefan Lambez miscued his pass attempt to Bruno Franco. Martin Sekulic controlled the ball, feinted the Brazilian and passed to Mohamed Brahimi. The Frenchman passed to Dylan Mertens, who scored 0:3 from the edge of the penalty area and with the help of the crossbar.
Just two minutes later, the “canaries” reached a fourth goal after a solo action by Mertens. The Dutchman took the ball in front of the penalty area, easily dealt with Krasimir Miloshev, and then with Antoni Ivanov, and from 11-12 meters with a precise shot scored for the second time in the match.
In the 75th minute, the visitors could have scored a fifth goal. James Eto’o cut through the center and put Mohamed Brahimi alone against the goalkeeper. However, the winger sent the ball past the goal. Shortly after, Alexander Ljubenov intervened after a shot by Martin Sekulic. In the return attack, Hidayet Hankic had to knock out a long-range shot from Simeon Mechev.
Loko Sofia – Botev Plovdiv 0:4
0:1 Ume Emmanuel (19)
0:2 Ume Emmanuel (42)
0:3 Dylan Mertens (65)
0:4 Dylan Mertens (67)
Locomotive: 24. Alexander Lyubenov, 12. Bruno Franko (80 – 22. Ivaylo Naydenov), 4. Dime Dimov, 13. Celso Raposo (46 – 93. Stefan Lambez), 26. Krasimir Miloshev /k/ (89 – 17. Teodor Ivanov ), 31. Krasimir Stanoev, 21. Antoni Ivanov, 16. Simeon Mechev (80 – 98. Steve Traore), 7. Kevin Mai, 45. Dimitar Mitkov (80 – 9. Kaloyan Krastev), 11. Carlos France
Reservations: 88. Zharko Istatkov, 15. Luka Ivanov, 22. Ivaylo Naydenov, 9. Kaloyan Kostov, 93. Stefan Lambez, 98. Steve Traore, 17. Teodor Ivanov, 8. Boycho Velichkov, 5, Daniel Kami
Coach: Danilo Doncic
Botev: 1. Hidayet Hankic, 5. Jonas Tam, 6. Dylan Mertens (81 – 28. Yanis Karabelov), 7. Mohamed Brahimi, 15. James Eto’o, 16. Samuel Akere (62 – 9. Martin Sekulic), 17. Nikolay Minkov , 19. Antoine Conte /k/, 20. Antonio Perera (46 – 30. Lachezar Baltanov), 31. Ume Emmanuel (77 – 40. Christian Nwachukwu), 38. Konstantinos Baloyiannis (77 – 18. Dimitar Papazov)
Reservations: 32. Matvey Igonen, 4. Ehije Ukaki, 9. Martin Sekulich, 14. Faustas Steponavičius, 18. Dimitar Papazov, 28. Yanis Karabelov, 30. Lachezar Baltanov, 40. Christian Nwachukwu, 42. Ivaylo Videv
Coach: Dusan Kerkez
G.k.: Carlos France, Kevin Mai, Krasimir Miloshev (Lokomotiv); Konstantinos Baloyiannis, Samuel Akere. Hidayet Hankic, Martin Sekulic (Botev)
Judge: Nikola Popov
Stadium: “Lokomotiv Sofia
Tags: Botev Plovdiv crushed Lokomotiv Sofia finished seventh Football efbet Liga
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