National cup

National Stadium
Spectators: 14377 (Terracing: 10000, Seating: 4027, VIP seats: 350) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Gancho Manasiev took the kick off in the first half of the match. If Marcos Salguero had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 3rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Gancho Manasiev in the 6th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Ivan Villacorta prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Miho Matakiev charged in rather forcefully in the 7th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Miho Matakiev the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, U21 Bulgaria's Miho Matakiev got a free kick in the 7th minute. After 13 played minutes U21 El Salvador got a freekick which was hit by Marcos Salguero. 15 minutes into the match, U21 El Salvador's goal looked a bit too open when Dimcho Semenov came free, but Ivan Villacorta reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Gancho Manasiev in the 19th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ivan Villacorta saved U21 El Salvador from getting behind. After some careless play in the U21 El Salvador defense, Miho Matakiev kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ivan Villacorta. The U21 El Salvador fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ivan Villacorta should have stopped the shot. Rolando Cortez could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 29th minute of the match, but Venelin Gotzov made a huge save. After a defensive mix-up in U21 Bulgaria's zone, Enrique Morales stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Venelin Gotzov came out of the goal and Enrique Morales tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Marcos Salguero got free with Venelin Gotzov in the 33rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Dimcho Semenov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Gancho Manasiev's late challenge caught a U21 El Salvador's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Gancho Manasiev helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of U21 El Salvador booed when U21 Bulgaria was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 38 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gancho Manasiev didn't get a good kick on the ball. Venelin Gotzov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rolando Cortez in the 44th minute of play. In the 45th minute, Juan Bustamante hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When U21 Bulgaria's Gancho Manasiev in the 47th minute got a chance for a shot 47th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 El Salvador's goalie prevented a goal. The U21 El Salvador players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. U21 Bulgaria were winning 0-2.

Ivan Villacorta stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Dimcho Semenov's shot from short distance in the 51st minute. Gancho Manasiev sent away a hard shot on goal in the 52nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. U21 Bulgaria made a substitution. Deyan Marinshev replaced Valcho Chanev. The supporters of U21 Bulgaria booed when U21 El Salvador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 60 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mariano Cruz didn't get a good kick on the ball. Thanks to some nice moves Gancho Manasiev could shoot a difficult shot in the 62nd minute, which Ivan Villacorta however easily saved by the left post. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Marcos Salguero in the 63rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Venelin Gotzov prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Ivan Villacorta didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Parvan Kachev went, in the 65th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-3 was the resulting score. 73 minutes into the game, Gancho Manasiev cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-4. Ivan Villacorta was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gavril Ampov in the 77th minute of play forced U21 El Salvador's goalkeeper Ivan Villacorta to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 84th minute, U21 Bulgaria's Zlatko Bozadzhiyski dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-5. When U21 Bulgaria's Zlatko Bozadzhiyski in the 91st minute got a chance for a shot 91st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 El Salvador's goalie prevented a goal. In the 92nd minute, U21 El Salvador's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Gancho Manasiev fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Ivan Villacorta made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Zlatko Bozadzhiyski in the 94th minute of play. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. U21 Bulgaria had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.