National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725,
Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Davide Spadoni started the match with the kick off. Bruno Antognoni made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Marko Ruskov in the 9th minute of play. Bulgaria's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Velichko Dúrov in the 10th minute. A well-hit corner resulted in Mihail Mustakerski heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. In the 15th minute Marko Ruskov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bruno Antognoni saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 25 minutes into the match, Bulgaria's goalkeeper Vitomir Starokin had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Bernardo Di Piazza. Vitomir Starokin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Davide Spadoni, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 30th minute, Denimir Tzonkov hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a little luck, Bulgaria's Vitomir Starokin got control of the ball when Enzo Luongo tried to sneak it across the goal line. Bulgaria's Vitomir Starokin proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 33rd minute of the match, managed to save Bulgaria from getting a goal against them. Vitomir Starokin made a fantastic save in the 35th minute, when Enzo Luongo sent off a good shot on target. Bulgaria's Vitomir Starokin played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Enzo Luongo in the 37th minute of play. Bruno Antognoni showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marko Ruskov, who was totally free with the ball in the 44th minute. Bulgaria's Vitomir Starokin proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 45th minute of the match, managed to save Bulgaria from getting a goal against them. In the 48th match minute, Bulgaria was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dido Dunchev to maneuver through the defense.
The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Marko Ruskov was the one to do the kick off. Bruno Antognoni took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Denimir Tzonkov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 65 minutes into the match, Bulgaria's goal looked a bit too open when Enzo Luongo came free, but Vitomir Starokin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 68th minute Velichko Dúrov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bruno Antognoni saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 70 minutes into the match, Italy's goal looked a bit too open when Velichko Dúrov came free, but Bruno Antognoni reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Davide Spadoni had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Bulgaria's Levent Itzov was substituted for Velichko Dúrov. Bulgaria made a substitution. Pancho Pancho replaced Lachezar Kavaldzhiev. Italy's Mark Lenders was substituted for Davide Spadoni. Italy's Donato Zoccolo was substituted for Bar Olo. An unexpectedly hard shot by Aldo Di Carlo in the 76th minute of play forced Bulgaria's goalkeeper Vitomir Starokin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 77th minute of the match Italy got a corner. Bulgaria's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Carmine Gargano ran over to the corner to take the kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mark Lenders in the 80th minute of play forced Bulgaria's goalkeeper Vitomir Starokin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Italy's Bruno Antognoni proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 81st minute of the match, managed to save Italy from getting a goal against them. 83 minutes into the match, Italy's goal looked a bit too open when Levent Itzov came free, but Bruno Antognoni reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Levent Itzov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 84th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bruno Antognoni having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mark Lenders in the 89th minute of play forced Bulgaria's goalkeeper Vitomir Starokin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Deyan Petrinski charged in rather forcefully in the 90th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Deyan Petrinski the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Aldo Di Carlo in the 92nd minute of play forced Bulgaria's goalkeeper Vitomir Starokin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Vitomir Starokin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Donato Zoccolo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 95 minutes had been played when some careless play by Bulgaria's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Carmine Gargano was slow to take the kick. During this time Italy's players had a chance to rest. A very nice done corner allowed Mark Lenders to score against Vitomir Starokin in Bulgaria's goal. 1-0 after 96 minutes. Many of Bulgaria's supporters were seen to leave the ground early as it became clear their team was going to lose. Bulgaria may have spent more time on the ball, but Italy were more willing to take their chances and they walked away with the win.
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