Bulgaria "A" - Belarus 'A' 1: 0
1: 0 Ivelin Popov (10)
Yellow cards: Aleksandrov, Kirilov, Dyakov (Bulgaria); Hleb (21, 90 +1), Shitov, Candy (Belarus)
Red card: Alexander Hleb (Belarus)
BULGARIA: 23.Vladislav Stoyanov, 4.Petar Zanev, 14.Vasil Bozhikov, 3.Alexander. Aleksandrov, 2.Strahil Popov, 6. Slavchev, 21. Dyakov - c., 20. Tonev (66 Kirilov), 17. G.Milanov (53- Chochev), 10. Ivelin Popov (75- Yordanov), 7. Delev
Head Coach: P.Hubchev
BELARUS: 22.Gorbunov, 5.Polyakov, 21.Filipenko, 3.Martinovic - c. (36- Shitov), 6.Politevich, 14.Kendall, 18.Maevski (74- Kornilenko), 10.Hleb, 13. Nehaychik (61- Savitsky),11.Gordeychuk 23.Laptyov
Head Coach: Alexander Hatskevich
Referee: Stefan Klosner (Switzerland)
Bulgaria has won for the second time in group „A“ in his qualifying campaign for World Cup 2018. Peter Hubchevs team overcomed Belarus 1:0 at "Vasil Levski" stadium in Sofia. (watch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcmxUa5lH0s)
First half
After 10 minutes Spas Delev advanced on the right wing and his perfect cross was converted into a goal from Ivelin Popov, who scored with a fine header. This was his 12-th goal for Bulgaria.
In the 29th minute Bulgaria were close to double the score. Zanev charged down the left and crosed into the box where Belarus defender was close to score an own goal, but Gorbunov saved.
A minute later Stoyanov made a fine save to stop Candy shot from 12 meters.
In the 34th minute Georgi Milanov overcame four Belarus defenders, but his shot came wide.
At the end of the first part Maevski found himself clean position and fired a shot that went out.
Second half
After 57 minutes of play, Bulgaria goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov has made another good save – this time on Shitov, who tried to score from a close range.
Later on, Radoslav Kirilov and Preslav Yordanov both has entered the game to make their official debuts, replacing Aleksandar Tonev and Ivelin Popov.
In 77th minute Slavchev found Kirilov in a fine position, but his shot came out. In the very last minute Kornilenko headed the ball into the net after a cross from corner kick, but the goal was disallow for offside.
In the other match of the group, the Netherlands outplayed Luxembourg 3:1.
In group „А“ table Bulgaria is on fourth place with 6 points. France is on top with 10 points, followed by the Netherlands and Sweden with 7. Belarus and Luxembourg are the last two positions with 2 and 1 points.
On March 25, 2017 Bulgaria will play Netherlands in Sofia.
Department "Public Relations and Media"
