Quick-fire Todorov inspires Litex comeback

PFC Litex Lovech will defend a slender advantage in Bulgaria next week after coming from behind to defeat FK Mogren 2-1 in Podgorica.

Trailing to Miodrag Zec's 14th-minute strike, the Bulgarian champions hit the woodwork three times in the second half before Svetoslav Todorov came off the bench to turn the tie on its head with two goals in the space of three minutes.

Mogren had started the match cautiously but managed to take the lead from their first foray into Litex territory. Captain Vladimir Gluščević led by example with a raid down the left and delivered a low cross which Zec converted despite the best efforts of two defenders on the goal line. Mogren dominated possession thereafter without really threatening their hosts, whose defence was expertly marshalled by Radoslav Batak.

The Mogren No20 had to come off injured at half-time, though, and the difference was palpable as the visitors swarmed forward, only to be denied on three occasions by the frame of the goal. Ten minutes after the restart, towering striker Célio Codó headed Hristo Yanev's corner against the post and within two minutes Thiago Miracema rattled the crossbar with a thunderous shot from distance. Not to be outdone, Wellington also struck a post midway through the half with a powerful effort from 12 metres.

Despite the continued frustration, the Bulgarian champions stuck to their task and finally broke through when Todorov headed Momchil Tsvetanov's cross past Nemanja Šćekić. The two substitutes again combined three minutes later when Todorov finished off another left-wing cross by the 20-year-old.