Ludogorets complete Bulgarian title hat-trick

PFC Ludogorets Razgrad have become the first side from outside Sofia to win three straight Bulgarian titles after defeating PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1-0.

Ludogorets, who left it until the final game in 2011/12 and 2012/13 having only been promoted the previous season, went into Wednesday's match knowing victory would take them eight points clear of PFC CSKA Sofia with two games to go. Slovenian international Roman Bezjak scored the only goal after just ten minutes with a neat low finish past Yordan Gospodinov.

In the past only capital giants CSKA and PFC Levski Sofia had managed league hat-tricks. Ludogorets also reached this season's UEFA Europa League round of 16 and begin the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League in the second qualifying round.

Jubilant Ludogorets coach Stoicho Stoev said: "We put in a lot of effort. We, the coaches and the players, trusted and respected each other. I am feeling proud along with the players. They are total professionals and are also very good people as well.

"Now it is time for me to enjoy the moment. I have waited for this moment through all my career as a player and as a coach. However, the season is not over as next Wednesday we have the cup final against PFC Botev Plovdiv to look forward to and we should be ready."

Goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov added: "It was a long and hard season. The good news is that this time we did not leave it late like last season. The most important thing is that we won the league as the season was very competitive."