Bulgaria round-up: Chilikov fires under-strength Levski

Substitute Georgi Chilikov hit a hat-trick at the weekend as Bulgarian champions PFC Levski Sofia beat PFC Slavia Sofia 5-2.

Expected to impress
Slavia had won their past two away games and expected to impress at home against an under-strength Levski, several of whose players had been victims of about of food poisoning. It looked set to go according to plan when Martin Kushev put the hosts ahead on three minutes but Miodrag Pantelic’s leveller soon after signalled what was to come.

Ran riot
Velimir Ivanovich did restore the lead almost immediately with a stunning 25-metre strike but Levski returned from the break energized, running in four goals without reply as Chilikov ran riot with three well-taken goals and Vieira Vava also chipped in.

Spartak open account
PFC Spartak Varna collected their first victory of the season – a 3-1 away win over newly-promoted PFC Dobrudzha Dobrich, with Anastas Petrov twice on target. Nikolai Stanchev opened the scoring from the spot on 15 minutes but Petrov then doubled the lead and rounded off the victory after the break after Georgi Kichukov had pulled one back.

Drubbing
PFC Marek Dupnitze also won for the first time, an emphatic 6-1 victory over PFC Botev Plovdiv. PFC CSKA Sofia saw off PFC Rilski Sportist Samokov thanks to first-half goals from Hristo Yanev and a Velizar Dimitrov penalty, while PFC Cherno More Varna and PFC Litex Lovech fought out a scoreless draw.

Metushev the hero
Mario Metushev was the hero for PFC Chernomorets Burgas, collecting the only goal against neighbours PFC Naftex Burgas. FC Lokomotiv Plovidiv beat PFC Lokomotiv Sofia 2-1 on Friday.