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Bulgaria round-up: CSKA leave it late

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PFC CSKA Sofia needed a last-minute penalty to remain unbeaten - but still extended their lead.

PFC CSKA Sofia needed a last-minute penalty to preserve their unbeaten Bulgarian Premier League record - but still extended their lead over PFC Levski Sofia to seven points.

Late equaliser
CSKA seemed to be heading for defeat against lowly PFC Rilski Sportist Samokov after the home side went ahead on 14 minutes through Lyubomir Videnov's bicycle kick and held on until added time. But in the 92nd minute, CSKA striker Velizar Dimitrov was tripped in the area and Emil Gargorov converted the penalty. Gargorov was then pushed by Ivan Gemedzhiev as the CSKA player attempted to retrieve the ball, and was taken to hospital with a suspected broken rib. Gemedzhiev was sent off, but his side held on for a point.

Levski beaten
However, Levski could not take advantage of CSKA's slip as they were beaten 2-1 at home by PFC Slavia Sofia. Levski were ahead on ten minutes when Georgi Chilikov headed his 18th goal of the season following a Manuel Mendoza cross. But Slavia kept hope and levelled a minute from the break through Kiril Dzhorov's clever chip. Levski began to struggle and were reduced to nine men when Georgi Markov was sent off 21 minutes from time for a foul tackle and Stanislav Genchev followed him 14 minutes later for the same reason. And Slavia took advantage as Georgi Vladimirov converted a one-on-one three minutes from the end.

Naftex derby win
In the Burgas derby, PFC Naftex Burgas defeated PFC Chernomorets Burgas 2-0 with two goals by Stoyko Sakaliev, one in each half. Elsewhere, PFC Lokomotiv Sofia came from behind to beat PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv 4-1, bottom-placed PFC Dobrudzha Dobrich lost 1-0 at PFC Spartak Varna, and PFC Botev Plovdiv overcame PFC Marek Dupnitsa through Borislav Dimitrov's late winner.

Match postponed
The match between PFC Litex Lovech and PFC Cherno More Varna was postponed following the murder of Cherno More president Ilia Pavlov, who was shot dead on Friday. The new date for the match will be announced later next week. All matches in the Premier League also began with a minute of silence in memory of the richest man in Bulgaria, who spent four years as chairman of CSKA Sofia until 1999 before taking over Cherno More in 2001.

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