Bulgaria round-up: Varna take advantage

The top two teams in the Bulgarian play-off table both suffered shock defeats tonight.

Stanchev hat-trick
Third-placed PFC Spartak Varna took advantage to make up ground on the leading pair with a 3-0 win against bottom club PFC Beroe. Valentin Stanchev was too powerful for the home defence and scored a hat-trick for Varna.

Surprise defeat
Meanwhile, top club PFC Lokomotiv Sofia crashed to a surprise 1-0 home defeat at the hands of PFC Chernomorets Burgas with Ivan Martinov's last-minute strike proving the winner.

Missed opportunity
Second-placed PFC Marek travelled to face struggling PFC Spartak Pleven with the chance to take over top spot but were beaten 3-1. Goals from Georgi Georgiev (34 minutes), Emil Todorov (55) and William Rocha Batista (72) put the home side in control. Vladimir Kolev's strike in the 82nd minute was merely a consolation.

Hopes boosted
In the night's other game second-bottom PFC Belasitsa boosted their survival hopes with a 1-0 home win over PFC Cherno More. Marcelo Viera-Vava's goal in the 26th minute was enough to secure victory.