Arda defeated Loko (SW) 4:2 in a match of the 16th round of the First League. Stanislav Ivanov, Dimitar Velkovski, Borislav Tsonev and an own goal by Efe Ali were the authors of the goals for the hosts from Kardzhali. Vladimir Medved and Dimitar Iliev scored from a penalty for the team from Plovdiv.
Chinonso Ofor had the first opportunity to open for Arda, making a slalom between the Plovdiv defenders, but he tried to set the ball on his right foot and his shot was blocked by Martin Paskalev.
Arda struck within two minutes. In the 26th minute, Lachezar Kotev brought on Stanislav Ivanov, who got out from behind Lokomotiv's defense and with a technical shot with his left foot shot past goalkeeper Martin Lukov's dive for 1:0. The people of Plovdiv had not yet realized when, in the very next dangerous attack of the hosts, Dimitar Velkovski and Tonislam Yordanov made a quick double pass from the left and the former got into a good position, firing a solid shot into the upper left corner of Lokomotiv's goal for 2:0. It was Velkovski's first goal for Arda, and he was not happy, as for three years he wore the “black and white“ jersey.
In the first minute of added time, Vladimir Medved from Lokomotiv received the ball from the left, went inside and with a nice shot from 25 meters into the right corner made it so that the goalkeeper Gospodinov did not move - 2:1.
In the next attack, Ivanov crossed to Chinonsno Ofor, whose shot was blocked by the goalkeeper Lukov with his foot, and the ball bounced off the crossbar, and in the second cross by Ivanov, the ball ricocheted into Efe Ali from Lokomotiv, who scored an own goal 3 :1.
In the 57th minute, Arda's lead became too big. Chinonso Ofor returned the ball from the right to the edge of the penalty area, where Borislav Tsonev took it, fought with a defender and with a shot in the right corner of Martin Lukov scored the fourth goal for the team from Kardzhali – 4:1.
Immediately after that, Medved came very close to his second goal of the game, but his shot went inches wide of the outside of Gospodinov's right post. "Black and White" they missed another great opportunity to reduce after shuffling.
Fifteen minutes before the end of regular time, Lokomotiv's reserve Dimitar Iliev was tripped in the penalty area by Velkovski and referee Ivo Andreev awarded a penalty. Iliev himself scored with a "Panenka" style technical kick. the second goal for his team. This was the 34th realized penalty in the career of Dimitar Iliev, who has twice become "Footballer of Bulgaria".
With the success, Arda temporarily moved to fourth place in the standings, ahead of the Black Sea and Levski teams. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) is in 13th position.
First League Round of 16 Matches:
Spartak (Vn) - Heber - 4:0
Arda - Loko (Pd) - 4:2
Today from 15.00 hours:
Botev (S) - Botev (W)
From 5:30 p.m.:
Levski - Loko (Sf)
On Sunday:
Beroe – September (12.15 p.m., Diema sport)
CSKA 1948 - Black Sea (2:30 p.m., Diema Sport)
CSKA-Sofia – Ludogorets (17.00 hours, Diema sport)
On Monday:
Slavia – Krumovgrad (5:30 p.m., Diema sport)