Bulgaria round-up: Lokomotiv stroll on

PFC Lokomotiv Sofia maintained their 100 percent record in the relegation play-offs with today's 1-0 win against PFC Spartak Varna.

Defensive mix-up
A mix-up between Varna goalkeeper Georgi Arnaudov and defender Nikolai Stanchev allowed Rosen Kaptiev to steal in and slot the ball into an empty net for an 87th-minute winner.

Derby victory
Second-placed PFC Marek kept up the pressure on leaders Lokomotiv with a 2-0 derby win against PFC Belasitsa. Substitute Velizar Dimitrov opened the scoring for the visitors just after the hour, heading in a cross from the right and Amiran Mudzhiri capped a fine solo run with a calm finish to seal the win with just over ten minutes remaining.

Pleven win at last
PFC Spartak Pleven achieved their first win of the play-offs with a 3-1 home triumph against PFC Chernomorets Burgas. Chernomorets were gifted a fifth-minute lead when Dimitar Koemdzhiev put through his own net, but Spartak equalised just a minute later. Konstantin Bashov broke free on the left, burst purposefully into the area and let fly with a fierce drive which fizzed into the net.

Kamburov unmarked
The home side went ahead in the 73rd minute when Georgi Georgiev fired a shot through a crowded penalty area which was pushed away by the keeper, but Martin Kamburov followed up to nod in the loose ball. Kamburov was left unmarked in the area to add his second with two minutes remaining.

Cherno More draw
In the day's other game, PFC Cherno More came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at PFC Beroe. Beroe opened the scoring after 43 minutes when Veselin Penev's corner from the right was powerfully headed in by Mariyan Germanov. There was still time in the first half for Nigerian Omonigo Tamile to be shown a second yellow card for a late challenge, as things seemingly went from bad to worse for the visitors.

Surprise equaliser
But, after the break and against the run of play, Cherno More struck a 62nd-minute equaliser as Kristiyan Dobrev's superb free-kick gave the keeper no chance.