National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725,
Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Marko Ruskov started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 3rd minute, Vesko Tokev 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Marko Ruskov in the 6th minute of play forced Belgium's goalkeeper Manuel Campens to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Manuel Campens showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nikolay Zhalov in the 10th minute of the match. Manuel Campens made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nikolay Zhalov in the 10th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Victor Van Bever got free with Bogdan Samokovliyski in the 11th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Marko Ruskov in the 17th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Manuel Campens prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Belgium were awarded a corner in the 22th minute after Bulgaria's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Henry Rockeloos took the corner. In the 24th minute Marko Ruskov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Manuel Campens saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Belgium's Zeti Pili got a free kick in the 26th minute. Manuel Campens took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nikolay Zhalov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 29th minute Marko Ruskov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Manuel Campens saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Marko Ruskov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Vesko Tokev scored 0-2 in the 35th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Manuel Campens, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Bogdan Samokovliyski showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Victor Van Bever in the 39th minute of the match. Ben Skywalker received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Bogdan Samokovliyski came out and tried to block the shot, but Ben Skywalker slotted it home off the left post making it 1-2 in the 44th minute. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 2-2 after a close first half.
Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Ben Skywalker to make the kick off. Bogdan Samokovliyski made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Victor Van Bever in the 55th minute of play. Nikolay Zhalov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Belgium's Manuel Campens played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nikolay Zhalov in the 58th minute of play. Manuel Campens didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Nikolay Zhalov went, in the 58th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-3 was the resulting score. In the 65th minute, Ben Skywalker got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Bogdan Samokovliyski showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Victor Van Bever, who was totally free with the ball in the 73rd minute. Manuel Campens showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nikolay Zhalov in the 74th minute of the match. In the 79th minute Victor Van Bever shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bogdan Samokovliyski saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 80th minute Belgium were awarded a corner. Henry Rockeloos went to the cornerflag to take it. A well-hit corner resulted in Zeti Pili heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. In the 81st minute Zeti Pili shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bogdan Samokovliyski saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Bogdan Samokovliyski took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Victor Van Bever, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 87 minutes into the match, Bulgaria's goal looked a bit too open when Ben Skywalker came free, but Bogdan Samokovliyski reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 89 minutes into the game, Ganyo Pigov threw the ball into play from the sideline. Belgium's Lennart De Coster quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. In the 92nd minute, Ganyo Pigov hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Victor Van Bever in the 98th minute of play forced Bulgaria's goalkeeper Bogdan Samokovliyski to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 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.
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