Balakov signs off in style
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Article summary
Bulgaria 2-0 Albania Krassimir Balakov sets up a goal on his retirement as Bulgaria win.
Article body
Bulgaria 2-0 Albania
Krassimir Balakov marked his retirement from international football by setting up Bulgaria's first goal in a 2-0 friendly victory over Albania on Wednesday.
Balakov makes his mark
The Bulgaria captain, playing his 92nd match for his national side, broke into the box on the right on four minutes and flighted the ball across goal to Dimitar Berbatov who headed in his pin-point cross from ten metres.
Great reception
Four minutes later, the 37-year-old VfB Stuttgart playmaker made his symbolic exit, kicking the ball out of play before making his way to the touchline where, to rapturous applause, he shook the hand of substitute Stilian Petrov before handing him the captain's armband. The Celtic FC midfield player then took to the field wearing the No10 shirt made famous by Balakov.
'We will qualify'
Balakov leaves Bulgaria top of Group 8 in their UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying campaign and he assured supporters that Plamen Markov's side were well placed to complete the job of reaching the finals in Portugal. "I thank you all, I'm sure we will qualify for the EURO 2004™ finals," he said. "Thank you for everything. I feel OK. I expected to feel worse but perhaps the experience and the reality in front of me has helped me."
Goal disallowed
When play resumed, Bulgaria were quickly back on to the attack. On 12 minutes Berbatov just failed to get on the end of Daniel Borimirov's low cross from the right, but Velizar Dimitrov was on hand at the far post to score, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. Ten minutes before the break, however, the home side did get a second goal, Berbatov picking his spot from five metres after an excellent run down the left from Velizar Dimitrov.
New order
The second half was disrupted by a string of substitutions from both sides as Albania looked to hit back on the break, but the Bulgaria defence held firm. As Balakov retired, the national side welcomed new faces, with Stoyko Sakaliev and Nikolay Krastev, both of PFC Naftex Burgas, making their debuts for Bulgaria.
