FK Sevlievo won 2-0 away at OFK Tryavna in local derby

Sunday, the 21st of February 2021, 2 pm local time (12 noon UTC), Angel Kanchev Stadium, Tryavna, Bulgaria, the 18th round of the Bulgarian Third League - North-West Group.

The spring season started early for the teams included in the North-West Group of the Bulgarian Third League. Amid challenges regarding COVID-19 pandemic, the cold weather and snow-covered pitch, the first round of the second half of the season also featured the first local derby, involving two teams located in Gabrovo District, OFK Tryavna and FK Sevlievo. However, the two teams are really at the opposite ends of the table, as OFK Tryavna are second to last, and fight to avoid relegation, while FK Sevlievo are second, and still have hopes for promotion.

During the winter break, OFK Tryavna brought some reinforcements, and no less than five new players started the game: Ivaylo Iliev, Tihomir Marinov, Georgi Georgiev, Todor Chirpanov and Radoslav Baichev, with other newcomers on the bench.

However, in the field, FK Sevlievo proved to be the better team, which controlled the game most of the time. The match was very much disputed, especially in midfield, where the fight for ball possession was fierce. There were few real goal opportunities and the first half ended 0-0.

In the second half, Oktay Azisov (Tryavna) suffered a serious injury after a rough contact with one of the opponents. The visitors pressed harder and eventually scored, by means of Atanas Georgiev: 0-1 (62'). OFK Tryavna tried to come back in the game, but all hopes were lost for Tryavna when Galin Stoyanov, who came in as a substitute, doubled the advantage for Sevlievo: 0-2 (66').

The situation remains complicated for OFK Tryavna, which are in the relegation area. Despite the defeat, their play improved and they might get better results in the coming matches. Their next game will be away at Etar 2 Veliko Tarnovo, next Sunday. FK Sevlievo maintain the 7-point gap between them and leaders Levski 2020 Lom, and they will face Spartak Pleven at home next week.

OFK Tryavna: Miroslav Kirov (cpt.) - Georgi Atanasov (Tomislav Kolev 81'), Vesko Karakolev, Oktay Azisov (Tsanko Slavov 52'), Ivaylo Iliev, Tihomir Marinov, Georgi Georgiev, Todor Chirpanov (Lachezar Kazakov 81'), Vasil Andreev (Stanislav Atanasov 86'), Radoslav Baichev, Martin Shirtev (Anatoly Kikov 46'). Manager: Daniel Hristov. Unused subs: Delyan Arabadzhiev and Aleksandar Damyanov.

FK Sevlievo: Dimitar Pantev - Atanas Fidanin, Georgi Pavlov, Ivaylo Ivanov, Pavlin Ivanov, Ilian Trifonov, Stefan Ivanov (Nikolai Nikolaev 51'), Hristian Vassilev, Atanas Georgiev, Milen Ivanov, Nikolai Banov (Galin Stoyanov 64', Stanimir Andreev 77'). Manager: Ivan Stoyanov. Unused subs: Hristo Lalev - Christian Kolev, Stevian Makaveev.

Referee: Ventsislav Koznichki.

Yellow cards: Georgi Georgiev 29', Ivaylo Iliev 65' - Georgi Pavlov 20', Ilian Trifonov 82'.

 

Full results, table and fixtures:

Round 18 (20-21 February 2021)

 

OFK Levski 2007 – Etar 2 Veliko Tarnovo 4-0

Bdin 1923 Vidin – Spartak Pleven 1-1

OFK Tryavna – FK Sevlievo 0-2

Parva Atomna Kozloduy – Lokomotiv 1927 Dryanovo 1-3

Akademik Svishtov – Vihar Slavyanovo 2-2

Levski 2020 Lom – Yantra Polski Trambesh 2-1

OFK Pavlikeni – OFK Lokomotiv Mezdra 0-0

Partizan Cherven Bryag – Peshtera Galata 4-1

Botev 2 Vratsa – FK Drenovets 5-1

 

Table

 

1	Levski 2020 Lom	18	13	5	0	39-6	44	Promotion to Vtora Liga
2	FK Sevlievo	18	11	4	3	36-14	37
3	Botev 2 Vratsa	18	11	3	4	40-18	36
4	Partizan Cherven Bryag	18	11	2	5	33-21	35
5	Vihar Slavyanovo	18	10	4	4	35-16	34
6	Yantra Polski Trambesh	18	10	3	5	30-19	33
7	Spartak Pleven	18	10	2	6	40-19	32
8	OFK Pavlikeni	18	8	5	5	21-13	29
9	Lokomotiv Dryanovo	18	9	0	9	39-41	27
10	OFK Lokomotiv Mezdra	18	7	3	8	24-21	24
11	OFK Levski 2007	18	6	5	7	25-21	23
12	Akademik Svishtov	18	6	1	11	22-33	19
13	FK Drenovets	18	5	4	9	28-42	19
14	Parva Atomna Kozloduy	18	5	3	10	23-29	18
15	Etar 2 Veliko Tarnovo	18	5	3	10	19-33	18
16	Peshtera Galata	18	4	3	11	30-49	15
17	OFK Tryavna	18	2	2	14	11-43	8	Relegation to regional leagues
18	Bdin 1923 Vidin	18	2	2	14	13-70	8	Relegation to regional leagues

 

Round 19 (28 February 2021)

 

Botev 2 Vratsa – Bdin 1923 Vidin

FK Drenovets – Partizan Cherven Bryag

Peshtera Galata – OFK Pavlikeni

Yantra Polski Trambesh – Akademik Svishtov

Vihar Slavyanovo – Parva Atomna Kozloduy

Lokomotiv 1927 Dryanovo – OFK Levski 2007

FK Sevlievo – Spartak Pleven

Etar 2 Veliko Tarnovo – OFK Tryavna

OFK Lokomotiv Mezdra – Levski 2020 Lom