Botev (Plovdiv) defeated Lokomotiv (Sofia) 4-0 away in a match of the 30th round of the efbet Liga, after earlier in the season they ran over the opposition 6-0.
The visitors recorded a record, as they did not concede a goal in the fifth consecutive match of the championship.
The “yellow and black” started very confidently and in the first six minutes wasted two good opportunities. Loko (Sofia) responded with a dangerous shot by Mechev from a foul and an attempt to add France.
The score was opened in the 18th minute, when Ume Emmanuel received the ball on the edge of the goal area and made no mistake for 1:0.
After less than half an hour of play, the visitors organized a high-speed attack that ended with a very inaccurate shot by Samuel Akere.
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Loko (Sofia) came close to equalizing in the 41st minute after Kevin Mai’s close-range shot but conceded a goal on the counter-attack. Ume Emmanuel was brought up against the goalkeeper of the capital city and finished with an accurate shot for 2:0.
The hosts became more active at the beginning of the second half, but never got into real scoring danger.
After an hour of play, Botev ran wild and quickly increased his lead with two more goals courtesy of Dylan Mertens. In the 65th minute, he scored with a strong shot and ricocheted into the crossbar (3:0), and two later he made it 4:0 after breaking through Lokomotiv’s defense and finishing with an accurate shot.
A quarter of an hour before the end, Mohamed Brahimi could have scored a fifth goal alone against the goalkeeper, but sent the ball past the goal.
Minutes later, Loko (Sofia) made a dangerous shot, the work of Mechev, but without result.
“Zeleznicarite” remains in 14th place with 28 points, Botev (Plovdiv) is already in seventh place with 44 points. Krumovgrad has the same number in the sixth position, but it has an advantage in the head-to-head matches with the “canaries”.
LOKOMOTIVE (SF) – BOTEV (PD) 0:3
0:1 Ume Emmanuel (18′), 0:2 Ume Emmanuel (42′), 0:3 Dylan Mertens (65′), 0:4 Dylan Mertens (67′)
Highlights of the match by minutes:
1′ Start of the meeting.
4′ First good chance of the match. Samuel Akere received the ball from James Eto’o, followed up with a shot but wide of the mark.
6′ New chance for Botev! Brahimi shoots, but again it’s wide of the post.
16′ Opportunity for Botev! Jonas Tam rose and sent a header that went wide.
17′ Simeon Mechev’s shot from a free kick towards Botev’s goal, Carlos Francea tried to add, but it went wide of the goal.
18′ GOOOOOL for Botev! Ume Emmanuel received a pass from the left and hit the target with one touch.
28′ A dangerous counterattack by Botev ended with an inaccurate shot by Samuel Akere.
41′ Nice shot from close range by Kevin Mai, but Botev’s keeper saves it.
42′ GOOOOOL for Botev! Ume Emmanuel was brought on alone against Alexander Lubenov and overcame him for 2:0.
45+1′ End of the first half.
46′ Start of the second half.
51′ Dangerous attack for Lokomotiv! France advanced dangerously and crossed into Botev’s box, but the visitors managed.
65′ 
GOOOOOL for Botev! Dylan Mertens received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and after ricocheting off the crossbar, sent it into the goal.
67′ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO for Botev! Again, Mertens scored after weaving through several defenders and sending the ball into the bottom left corner for 2-0.
75′ Mohamed Brahimi could have scored a fifth goal alone against the goalkeeper, but sent the ball past the goal.
78′ Great shot by Simeon Mechev, but Hankic hits.
90+3′ End of the match!
LOCO (SF): 24. Alexander Lubenov, 12. Bruno Franco (80′ 98. Steve Traore), 4. Dime Dimov, 13. Celso Raposo (46′ 
93. Stefan Lambez), 26. Krasimir Miloshev (90′ 17. Teodor Ivanov), 31. Krasimir Stanoev, 21. Antoni Ivanov, 16. Simeon Mechev (80′ 9. Kaloyan Krastev, 7. Kevin Mai 
45. Dimitar Mitkov (80′ 22. Ivaylo Naydenov, 11. Carlos France
Reservations: 88. Zharko Istatkov, 15. Luka Ivanov, 8. Boycho Velichkov, 5. Daniel Kami
Coach: Danilo Doncic
BOTEV (PD): 1. Hidayet Hankic 5. Jonas Tam, 6. Dylan Mertens (80′ 28. Yanis Karabelov), 7. Mohamed Brahimi, 15. James Eto’o, 16. Samuel Akere ( 9. Martin Sekulich ), 17. Nikolai Minkov, 19. Antoine Conte 20. Antonio Perera, 31. Ume Emmanuel (75′ 40. Christian Nwachukwu), 38. Konstantinos Baloyiannis (75′ 18. Dimitar Papazov)
Reservations: 32. Matvey Igonen, 4. Ehije Ukaki, 14. Faustas Steponavichus, , 30. Lachezar Baltanov, 42. Ivaylo Videv
Coach: Dusan Kerkez
Judge: Nikola Popov
Stadium: “Lokomotiv Sofia
Legend: – goal, 
– own goal, 
– yellow card, 
– second yellow card, 
– Red card, 
– shift, 
– dangerous situation, 
– injury, 
– reviewing a VAR situation
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