Bulgaria round-up: CSKA take eight-point lead

PFC CSKA Sofia increased their lead at the top of the A PFG to eight points after defeating PFC Litex Lovech 1-0 at the Bulgarska Armia stadium in Sofia.

Dimitrov strike
Velizar Dimitrov scored the only goal for CSKA but the turning point came five minutes into the second half when Litex's Tiago Silva was sent off for a second bookable offence. Artim Sakiri and substitutes Hristo Yanev and Emil Gargorov all missed chances to further the lead and CSKA coach Stoycho Mladenov said: "We should have scored more goals in the second half, but nevertheless, I am happy with my team's performance."

Levski rampant
Meanwhile, PFC Levski Sofia climbed up to second after cruising past PFC Dobrudzha Dobrich 5-0. Miodrag Pantelic, Dimitar Telkiyski, Sasa Simonovic, Todor Kolev and Vava scored the goals to sink Dobrudzha.
 
Kushev hat-trick
PFC Slavia Sofia's Martin Kushev recorded his fourth hat-trick of the season as his side swept four unanswered goals past PFC Chernomorets Burgas. The striker scored in the sixth minute before completing his treble with penalties in the 18th and 25th minutes. Velimir Ivanovic's strike on the half-hour mark gave the scoreline an emphatic look, but goals from Ivan Georgiev and Ivan Martinov either side of Slavia defender Stanimir Georgiev's dismissal salvaged some pride for Chernomorets.

First-half goals
Elsewhere, PFC Cherno More won 2-0 at home against PFC Marek Dupnitsa with goals from strikers Stefan Yurukov and Asen Bukarev while PFC Naftex Burgas recorded the same scoreline against PFC Lokomotiv Sofia, with Mitko Trendafilov and Malin Orachev doing the damage.

Derby delight
PFC Rilski Sportist earned another point after a goalless draw at home to PFC Spartak Varna, while PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv defeated PFC Botev Plovdiv 5-3 in the Plovdiv derby.