Bulgaria WU16 – Croatia WU16 1:0
Goalscorer: 1:0 Mariela Nedeva (77)
Yellow cards: Lilia Birova, Daniela Lazarova (Bulgaria); Ena Pernar (Croaria)
White cards (temporary expulsion for 8 minutes): Teodora Yordanova (Bulgaria); Helena Spajic (Croatia)
Bulgaria WU16: 1. Victoriya Ivanova, 3. Yanitsa Ivanova, 5. Rumyana Novakova (41-Ivana Naydenova), 6. Lilia Birova, 7. Gergana Petkova (58-Venka Draganova), 8. Antonina Petkova (C) (78-Gabriela Boyuklieva), 10. Mariela Nedeva (78-Nedret Zastrug), 13. Anna Georgieva, 15. Aleksandra Yaneva (78-Aleksandra Goranova), 16. Daniela Lazarova, 18. Teodora Yordanova (50-Ebru Dormushali)
Head Coach: Troyan Radulov
Croatia WU16: 1. Nensi Adamovic, 2. Helena Spajic, 5. Laura Kopic (C), 6. Iva Jakovac (48-Monika Cavic), 7. Veronika Terzic, 8. Ena Pernar, 10. Fatjesa Gegollaj (57-Patricia Stvoric), 13. Janja Canjevac, 14. Martina Taritas, 15. Ana Bartolovic, 18. Josipa Burcul
Head Coach: Bozidar Miletic
Referee: Dimitrina Milkova
Bulgaria WU16s deservedly won UEFA`s Development Tournament in Albena after beating Croatia WU16 1:0. Troyan Radulov`s players achieved three victories in a row after beating Georgia (4:1) and Romania (7:6 penalties) earlier this week.
First half
Despite the accumulated fatigue from the previous matches, the “lionesses” showed more football arguments from their opponents, spirit and will to win. Bulgaria`s Head Coach Troyan Radulov chose the same starting lineup who beat Romania two days ago as he made only two changes.
The game was equivalent, the two teams decided to play more cautiously and as a result there were no scoring opportunities.
In the final minute of the first part the "lionesses" could have opened the scoring after the goalie Nancy Adamovich made a mistake, but Mariela Nedeva missed the target.
Second half
Bulgaria started more aggressively the second part. On several occasions the reserve Ebru Dormushali made fine runs by the right side and crossed in to the penalty area, but there was no one to finish the attacks.
In the 60th minute Bulgaria again came close to open the scoring. There was a disarrangement in the penalty area after a set piece, but Anna Georgieva could not hit the ball from a few meters.
Yet the logical happened in the 77th minute and the “lionesses” took the lead. Mariela Nedeva shot, the goalie didn`t intervene well and the ball flew into the net for the final score 1:0.
"I am pleased with the performance of our girls. They demonstrated excellent collective, spirit of togetherness, qualities, character, motivation, immitigable spirit and will to win. More than half of them were debutantes and a year younger (class 2001). I think they will develop further their qualities and next year when they come in their age group, they will be even better. I want to thank the Bulgarian Football Union for their support. We were able to conduct a longer training camp before the tournament, which contributed to our good performance. I also want thank to the BFU for the Women's football development programme, which is at the base of these successes. Currently we have talented players and we as a coaching staff are able to selected from a larger number of girls, "said Bulgaria`s Head Coach Troyan Radulov.
In the other match Romania beat Georgia 3:0.
Thus, Bulgaria finished in first place with 8 points, followed by Croatia - 6, Romania - 4 and Georgia - 0 points.
Tournament results:
Sunday, 17.04.2016
BULGARIA vs. GEORGIA 4:1, “Albena 1” Stadium
CROATIA vs. ROMANIA 1:0, “Albena 3” Stadium
Tuesday, 19.04.2016
GEORGIA vs. CROATIA 0:1, “Albena 3” Stadium
ROMANIA vs. BULGARIA 2:2 (6:7 penalties), “Albena 1” Stadium
Thursday, 21.04.2016
GEORGIA vs. Romania 0:3, “Albena 3” Stadium
BULGARIA vs. Croatia 1:0, “Albena 1” Stadium
Department "Public Relations and Media"
