Bulgaria round-up: No place like home

Six games in Bulgaria and six home wins as it proved a bad day to travel in the A PFG on Saturday.

Goals galore
FC Lokomotiv Sofia lead the way with a 6-1 win over FC Chernomorets Burgas. However, you would have hardly predicted that the floodgates would open at the break as Lokomotiv had only a long-range Gancho Evtimov strike to show for their labours.  Evtimov added a second eight minutes into the second half and by the time Doncho Donev had added a third 60 seconds later, Chernomorets had buckled. Diyan Genchev (66) and Boyko Velichkov (67) made it 5-0 before Chernomorets scored their consolation goal with a free-kick from Iordan Todorov. The hosts would have the last word however, Rumen Hrisov finishing things off a minute before the end with another free-kick.

Hard to please
FC CSKA Sofia maintained their slender lead at the top of the table with a 2-1 victory over FC Marek. Vladimir Manchev got the hosts off to the perfect start with a third-minute header but Marek hit back after 34 minutes when a swift counter attack was finished off by Amiran Mudzhiri. CSKA managed to edge themselves back into the lead before the break when Manchev grabbed his second goal of the game. But his side could not add to their score in the second half, much to the dismay of the home supporters, who jeered their team off the pitch at the end despite victory.

Red card
The game of the day came as FC Belasitsa saw off ten-man FC Spartak Pleven. Wenedy Salis set Belasitsa on their way to victory with a 33rd-minute strike, and when Nikola Boichev made it 2-0 with five minutes remaining, Pleven looked down and out. They did manage to snatch a goal back thanks to Emil Todorov, but this was as close as they got to the points after an entertaining battle. Despite the loss, Pleven remain six points clear of the chasing pack aiming for a top-six finish as the teams go into the winter break.

Win for Varna
FC Spartak Varna comfortably saw off the challenge of FC Beroe. Goals from Valentin Stanchev (8), Anatoli Nankov (52) and Atanas Petrov (64) had the points safely in the bag before Todor Ionov headed an 85th-minute consolation for his side.

Relief for Litex
UEFA Cup hopefuls PFC Litex Lovech got the better of FC Cherno More by the odd goal in five. Litex were three goals up by the hour mark with two goals from Zoran Yankovich and Stefan Yurukov setting them up for what looked like a comfortable win. But with next Thursday's return clash with Greek side AEK Athens in mind, the hosts took their foot off the pedal, and almost paid the price. Spas Gigov grabbed a goal back in the 85th minute and Stanimir Georgiev made it 3-2 in injury time but it was too little too late for their side as Litex held out.

Hristov winner
FC Slavia Sofia's fading hopes of a top-six place were virtually wiped out after losing 1-0 at FC Neftochimik. The team from the port town had the upper hand throughout the match and Milen Hristov's 15th-minute header was the least they deserved for their performance.