National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Stayko Milyov started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Armando Mazzetti sent away a hard shot on goal in the 2nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Angelo Peruzzi stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Vangel Tuparev's shot from short distance in the 6th minute. A nice corner shot did that Yane Baylov got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Angelo Peruzzi quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Italy's Armando Mazzetti got a good chance for a goal in the 10th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. With a little luck, Bulgaria's Tzocho Yavrichev got control of the ball when Augusto Zisser tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 17th minute, Vangel Tuparev left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Bulgaria fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. Angelo Peruzzi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Vangel Tuparev in the 22nd minute of play. Armando Mazzetti's late challenge caught a Bulgaria's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Armando Mazzetti helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Bulgaria booed when Italy was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 23 match minutes in a wonderful position. Armando Mazzetti didn't get a good kick on the ball. 27 minutes into the match, Italy's goal looked a bit too open when Vangel Tuparev came free, but Angelo Peruzzi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 35th minute of the match Bulgaria got a corner. Italy's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Yane Baylov ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led Bulgaria's Iliyan Fichev to fire away a dangerous shot which Angelo Peruzzi despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Italy's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Elia Cucci in the 38th minute. Italy's Elia Cucci was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Tzocho Yavrichev in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. In the 42nd minute Stayko Milyov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Angelo Peruzzi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 44 minutes into the match, Bulgaria's Vangel Tuparev sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Angelo Peruzzi narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Bulgaria's Plamen Chokanov got a free kick in the 46th minute. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

Italy made a substitution. Matteo Renzi replaced Armando Mazzetti. The wind increased when Matteo Renzi made the kick off in the second half. Bulgaria's Tzocho Yavrichev played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Edoardo Del Pizzo in the 52nd minute of play. 54 minutes into the match, Bulgaria's goal looked a bit too open when Edoardo Del Pizzo came free, but Tzocho Yavrichev reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Matteo Renzi in the 57th minute of play forced Bulgaria's goalkeeper Tzocho Yavrichev to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 58 minutes into the match, Stayko Milyov had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Angelo Peruzzi. Italy's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Stayko Milyov was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. In the 61st minute, Prokopi Gutzev hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Italy's Edmondo Vitucci was substituted for Edoardo Del Pizzo. The supporters of Italy booed when Bulgaria was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 62 match minutes in a wonderful position. Prokopi Gutzev didn't get a good kick on the ball. 66 minutes into the match, Bulgaria's goal looked a bit too open when Matteo Renzi came free, but Tzocho Yavrichev reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to Bulgaria getting a freekick after 69 minutes play. Stayko Milyov hit a great ball. Tzocho Yavrichev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Matteo Renzi in the 70th minute of play. Tzocho Yavrichev showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Franco Galante, who was totally free with the ball in the 74th minute. In the 75th minute of the match, Stayko Milyov got a very nice opportunity to score, but Angelo Peruzzi was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Vangel Tuparev struck a weak shot in the 78th minute. Angelo Peruzzi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Bulgaria. Angelo Peruzzi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vangel Tuparev, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Vangel Tuparev might have been able to make a better finish in the 86th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Angelo Peruzzi. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Vangel Tuparev ran back to his position shaking his head. An unexpectedly hard shot by Vangel Tuparev in the 86th minute of play forced Italy's goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Stayko Milyov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 94th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Bulgaria's Vihren Mitikov was substituted for Stayko Milyov. The Bulgaria supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Bulgaria would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.