Borimirov brilliance lifts Levski

By Stoyan Georgiev

Daniel Borimirov was instrumental in leading PFC Levski Sofia to their 25th Bulgarian Cup triumph, helping the side defeat arch-rivals PFC CSKA Sofia 2-1 in a game sullied by three dismissals.

Headed opener
Levski opened the scoring on 52 minutes after CSKA captain Todor Yanchev fouled Zhivko Milanov and was sent off for his second bookable offence. From the resulting free-kick, 35-year-old Borimirov headed in Dimitar Telkiiski's cross.

Domovchiiski nerve
A clever pass from Levski's Georgi Chilikov put rising star Valeri Domovchiiski clear down the inside-left channel on 75 minutes and the youngster kept his nerve to slot the ball past CSKA goalkeeper Evgeni Hmaruc and double his side's lead.

CSKA penalty
The numbers were evened up eight minutes from time when Levski defender Elin Topuzakov fouled Ibrahima Guyey in the penalty area and received his second yellow card of the game. Hristo Yanev duly halved the deficit by scoring from the spot.

Last-gasp save
CSKA searched for an equaliser and their task was made more difficult by the 90th-minute dismissal of Yordan Todorov for a second bookable offence. The nine-men still forged a last-gasp opportunity though - but Levski goalkeeper Dimitar Ivankov superbly saved Valentin Iliev's ferocious volley.