Red cards and lots of events in the local derby: OFK Tryavna - Lokomotiv Dryanovo 1-3 (1-0)

Sunday, 7 March 2021, 2.30 pm local time (12.30 pm UTC), Angel Kanchev Stadium, Tryavna, Bulgaria, the 20th round of the Bulgarian Third League - North-West (Severozapadna Treta Liga).

The local derby between OFK Tryavna and Lokomotiv Dryanovo was always a moment of reference throughout the season, and this match was quite in line with the level of rivalry between the two teams. For the first time, Lokomotiv Dryanovo won in Tryavna, very much due to the very poor form of Tryavna players, on one hand, and the unlucky decisions taken by them in decisive moments, on the other hand.

In the first half, Tryavna took the lead by means of Martin Shirtev, who speculated the error of the visitors' defense: 1-0 (20'). Lokomotiv were unable to respond, while the host team organized well their play and maintained the advantage until the break.

In the second half, Dryanovo players seemed decided to turn the game into their favour. They dominated, had more ball possession, but Vasil Andreev could have doubled the advantage for Tryavna on a counterattack. However, the visitors eventually equalized, as Momchil Savov was fouled inside the area after a beautiful individual action, and Yordan Ivanov executed and transformed the penalty: 1-1 (66').

OFK Tryavna tried to put more pressure on the visitors, and their former player, now Dryanovo's Nikolay Georgiev received a second yellow card for a rough foul and was therefore sent off (68'). With the score 1-1 and one man down, Lokomotiv Dryanovo was in a clearly unfavourable position, but the hosts took no profit, and even more, on a counterattack, Momchil Savov assisted Kaloyan Kalchev to give Dryanovo an unexpected lead: 1-2 (72').

The frustration of Tryavna players reached the highest level, and Vasil Andreev, fouled by Konstantin Yordanov, took revenge in his own style on the Dryanovo player and was sent off by the referee (78'). The game continued with equal numbers on the field, as both teams had one man down in the final minutes. Tryavna tried hard to equalize, but the visitors were the ones to score again, by means of Momchilo Savov, who solved easily a one-on-one situation against goalkeeper Miroslav Kirov: 1-3 (90').

OFK Tryavna: Miroslav Kirov (cpt.) - Anatoli Kikov, Georgi Atanasov (Hussein Veisov 64'), Oktay Azisov, Vesko Karakolev, Ivaylo Iliev (Aleksandar Damyanov 84'), Tihomir Marinov, Todor Chirpanov, Georgi Georgiev (Hristo Ivanov 84'), Martin Shirtev, Vasil Andreev. Manager: Daniel Hristov.

Lokomotiv Dryanovo: Ivan Petrov - Stanislav Yordanov (Dencho Shipkaliev 62'), Ilian Iliev, Yordan Ivanov, Ivan Donets (Delyan Donchev 46'), Kaloyan Kalchev, Konstantin Yordanov (cpt.) (Andrey Petrov 90'+1'), Nikolay Georgiev, Martin Botev (Racho Ivanov 73'), Momchil Savov (Daniel Proichev 90'+1'), Hristo Tsonev. Manager: Svetlin Ivanov.

Referee: Georgi Ginchev.

Yellow cards: Anatoli Kikov 77', Martin Shirtev 90'+2' -  Nikolay Georgiev 44', 68', Martin Botev 73', Momchil Savov 82'.

Red cards: Vasil Andreev 78' - Nikolay Georgiev 68' (for a second yellow card).

The situation of OFK Tryavna is really hopeless. There are still many matches to be played, but the teams is far from the safe spots in the table and, even worse, they don't seem able to win games. Relegation to the Gabrovo League looks quite probable in this context, although all efforts should be made to save the team from relegation, if possible.

On the other hand, Lokomotiv Dryanovo are in a very comfortable mid-table position.

Full results, table and fixtures:

Round 20 (6-7 March 2021)

 

Spartak Pleven – Etar 2 Veliko Tarnovo 3-0

OFK Pavlikeni – FK Drenovets 0-0

Bdin 1923 Vidin – FK Sevlievo 0-0

OFK Tryavna – Lokomotiv 1927 Dryanovo 1-3

OFK Levski 2007 – Vihar Slavyanovo 0-1

Parva Atomna Kozloduy – Yantra Polski Trambesh 0-0

Akademik Svishtov – OFK Lokomotiv Mezdra 0-0

Levski 2020 Lom – Peshtera Galata 6-0

Partizan Cherven Bryag – Botev 2 Vratsa 0-2

 

Table

 

1	Levski 2020 Lom	20	15	5	0	47-6	50	Promotion to Vtora Liga
2	FK Sevlievo	20	12	5	3	37-14	41
3	Botev 2 Vratsa	20	12	4	4	42-18	40
4	Vihar Slavyanovo	20	12	4	4	39-17	40
5	Yantra Polski Trambesh	20	11	4	5	35-21	37
6	Partizan Cherven Bryag	20	11	3	6	34-24	36
7	Spartak Pleven	20	11	2	7	43-20	35
8	OFK Pavlikeni	20	8	7	5	21-13	31
9	Lokomotiv Dryanovo	20	10	1	9	42-42	31
10	OFK Lokomotiv Mezdra	20	7	4	9	24-23	25
11	OFK Levski 2007	20	6	6	8	25-22	24
12	Etar 2 Veliko Tarnovo	20	6	3	11	27-37	21
13	FK Drenovets	20	5	6	9	29-43	21
14	Akademik Svishtov	20	6	2	12	24-38	20
15	Parva Atomna Kozloduy	20	5	4	11	24-32	19
16	Peshtera Galata	20	4	4	12	30-55	16
17	Bdin 1923 Vidin	20	2	4	14	13-70	10	Relegation to regional leagues
18	OFK Tryavna	20	2	2	16	13-54	8	Relegation to regional leagues

 

Round 21 (14 March 2021)

 

Partizan Cherven Bryag – Bdin 1923 Vidin

Botev 2 Vratsa – OFK Pavlikeni

FK Drenovets – Levski 2020 Lom

Peshtera Galata – Akademik Svishtov

OFK Lokomotiv Mezdra – Parva Atomna Kozloduy

Yantra Polski Trambesh – OFK Levski 2007

Vihar Slavyanovo – OFK Tryavna

Lokomotiv 1927 Dryanovo – Spartak Pleven

Etar 2 Veliko Tarnovo – FK Sevlievo