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Bulgaria withdrew from the battle to qualify for the European Football Championship in 2021, after losing the important tiebreaker against Hungary 1: 3. The match, which was played at the “Vasil Levski” National Stadium in front of 3000 spectators, was developed sadly for the Bulgarian team.
With three of the four accurate shots, Hungary scored three goals, and especially in the first half Bulgaria had their chances, but missed the dismissed positions.
Hungary’s right-hander was Willy Orban in the 17th, Zolt Kalmar in the 47th and Nemanja Nikolic in the 75th minute. Georgi Yomov scored for Bulgaria in the 89th minute, which was correct in his debut for the men’s team.
In a qualifier for the European Championship, Hungary will face Iceland, who beat Romania 2-1.
The Bulgarian team started cautiously, without imposing pressure at home, but increasing their chances. Wrong passes and rushing play were more common on both teams.
The Hungarian guests were the first to put themselves in danger and they took advantage. In the 17th minute, defender Willy Orban opened after being brought down in a cross from a corner. Vasil Bozhikov missed his bearings, the ball hit Orban in the chest and into Plamen Iliev’s net.
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Hungary’s goal confirmed the national soccer team’s tendency to allow a goal from a static position in the third consecutive game.
Immediately after Hungary’s goal, the Bulgarian footballers reacted. Todor Nedelev tried a shot from about 25 meters, but the hosts’ goalkeeper took a corner.
In the 25th minute Galin Ivanov fired a long shot. It was inaccurate and in the situation the winger was injured and had to be replaced by Georgi Yomov.
The change had a positive effect on the Bulgarian national team’s play. Yomov created dangers for the Hungarian defense. In the 38th minute Nedelv missed with a header.
The hosts’ biggest opportunity came in added time in the first half. After an attack started by Nedelev, the ball reached Cicinho on the right wing. The defender sharply crossed Bozhidar Kraev, but his heel kick went inches off the side post.
After the first half, Hungary only had one accurate shot, against three for the Bulgarian team.
When play resumed, Hungary quickly came to a penalty kick near Bulgaria’s penalty area. Kalmar, who assisted on the first goal, decided to shoot from a distance and surprised the Bulgarian team.
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His shot ricocheted off Bozhidar Kraev, who jumped to the only one on the wall and flew into Plamen Iliev’s net.
With a two-goal lead, Hungary approached more cautiously, returning to their field. The Bulgarian players became more active, moved the actions to the guest field and had their chances.
In the 55th minute, Lang stopped Bozhidar Kraev and the referee called a penalty for Bulgaria. As Todor Nedelev prepared to take the penalty kick, the video referees determined that Lang’s foul was outside the penalty area and returned a free kick.
From that moment on, Bulgaria sought a return to the match, but never created clear positions against Peter Gulachi. In two more cases, the Bulgarians demanded a penalty, first after Georgi Yomov fell into the penalty area and then another substitute – Kiril Despodov.
A quarter of an hour before the end, Hungary reached the third goal, which finally decided the outcome of the match. Just 16 minutes after her appearance on the field, Nemanja Nikolic headed in after a good cross from the left.
At the end of the match, the action took place entirely in front of the gates of Hungary. Bulgaria hit several speed attacks, with the best of them dropping an honorable goal. Its author was Georgi Yomov in the 89th minute.
Following a pass from Ismail Isa, Yomov jumped behind the Hungary defense and scored on the pitch.
