Berbatov bails out Bulgaria

Bulgaria 2-2 Russia
Dimitar Berbatov kept Bulgaria's UEFA EURO 2004™ preparations on course by twice cancelling out Dmitri Sytchev strikes to help deny Russia a morale-boosting victory in Sofia.

Missed penalty
Berbatov scored with a free-kick and an opportunist finish to peg back a Russian side who could have won the game had Sergei Ignashevitch converted a second-half penalty. But nevertheless Bulgaria, who lost just once in their Group 8 qualifying campaign, will draw heart from a resilient display that entertained the Vassil Levski crowd.

Gusev craft
The first real opening came six minutes into the game when Sytchev found space ahead of Predrag Pazin but, despite throwing himself at Rolan Gusev's pacy right-wing cross, he narrowly failed to make contact.

Sytchev unmarked
If that was a warning for what was in store, the Bulgarian defence failed to take heed, because the pair combined with great effect two minutes later to put the visitors ahead. A low, floating ball from midfield skidded past the back four and seemed to be drifting out for a goal-kick, but as defenders gazed on flat-footed, Gusev charged to the by-line and cut the ball back for the unmarked Sytchev to crash in the opening goal.

Berbatov leveller
It took Bulgaria just seven minutes to draw level through Berbatov's free-kick. The visitors were penalised five metres outside their area and paid the price when Vadim Evseev peeled off the wall in an attempt to charge down Berbatov's strike and the ball arrowed through the gap the FC Lokomotiv Moskva player had created, leaving Russia goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov wrong-footed.

Semshov clearance
The home side could have found themselves a goal to the good ten minutes later when Berbatov rose highest in a crowded penalty area only to see his powerful header cleared off the line by FC Torpedo Moskva's Semshov.

Loskov brilliance
Five minutes after preventing a certain goal at one end, Semshov had a hand in creating one at the other. The Torpedo player cut in from the left flank and slipped a neat pass into the area for Dmitri Loskov, whose wonderful back-heel threw the lurking defender and allowed Sytchev a clear shot at goal. The Lokomotiv striker made no mistake, thumping the ball past Zdravko Zdravkov to make the score 2-1.

Rhythm lacking
Both teams made five half-time substitutions, Sytchev one of the Russians to make way, and the opening exchanges of the second half lacked rhythm as a result. Semshov missed a half-chance stretching for a loose ball in the Bulgaria penalty area and Zdravkov denied Aleksandr Kerzhakov with a wonderful save, tipping over the substitute's angled drive.

Pazin penalised
Five minutes into the second half the visitors missed an excellent opportunity to stretch their lead from the penalty spot. Pazin had been penalised for a sliding tackle on Vladimir Bystrov but Ignashevitch hit the bar with the spot-kick to let the home side off the hook.

Parity restored
Seven minutes later the 28-year-old Russian centre-half's miss was compounded by a second Bulgarian equaliser. Stilian Petrov picked up a neat back-heel in midfield and charged forward before driving a long-range shot straight at Berbatov, who moved the ball from under his feet and struck a low effort into the corner of Ovchinnikov's net.