2020 Bulgarian Cup final explained

2020 Bulgarian Cup final
Other Titles:Финал за Купата на България 2020
Event:2019–20 Bulgarian Cup
Team1:CSKA Sofia
Team1score:0
Team2:Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Team2score:0
Details:Lokomotiv Plovdiv won 5–3 on penalties
Stadium:Vasil Levski
City:Sofia
Referee:Georgi Kabakov (Plovdiv)
Attendance:12,000
Weather:Clear
30°C[1]
Previous:2019
Next:2021

The 2020 Bulgarian Cup final was the final match of the 2019–20 Bulgarian Cup and the 80th final of the Bulgarian Cup. The final took place on 1 July 2020 at Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria.[2] On 27 June the Bulgarian Football Union announced that it is allowed for the stadium to host up to 30% of its total capacity (i.e. 12,000 spectators) with up to 3,000 spectators per block in accordance with the health regulations issued by the Ministry of Health in relation to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria.[3]

The clubs contesting the final were CSKA Sofia and Lokomotiv Plovdiv.[4] Both teams had met on multiple occasions in the competition but never in the final itself. This was CSKA's 33rd final and the first one since 2016, while Lokomotiv Plovdiv appeared in their 2nd consecutive and 6th overall final.

Lokomotiv Plovdiv won the game after penalties and lifted their 2nd consecutive cup. This victory ensured their qualification to the first qualifying round of the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League. This was the first occasion in the history of the Cup finals in which a team from Plovdiv managed to prevail against a Sofia-based club - in the 15 previous instances the teams from the capital city had emerged victorious.[5] Momchil Tsvetanov joined Krasimir Bezinski and Elin Topuzakov in becoming the player with most cup wins in the history of the tournament.[6] This was his 6th cup in total with a 4th different club after 2008, 2009, 2016, 2018, and 2019.

Route to the final

See also: 2019–20 Bulgarian Cup.

CSKA SofiaRoundLokomotiv Plovdiv
OpponentResultLegsOpponentResultLegs
3–0away1st RoundBalkan Botevgrad3–0 away
Arda Kardzhali1–0away2nd Round2–1home
2–1homeQuarter-finalsCSKA 1948 Sofia2–0home
Botev Plovdiv2–0 (agg.)0–0 away; 2–0 homeSemi-finals2–0 (agg.)2–0 home; 0–0 away

Match

Details

GK 13
RB 19 Ivan Turitsov
CB 26
CB 11 Petar Zanev (c)
LB 18 Bradley Mazikou
DM 15
DM 6
RM 8 Graham Carey
AM 20
LM 10
CF 22
Substitutes:
GK 30 Vytautas Černiauskas
DF 3
DF 28
MF 17,
MF 21 Edwin Gyasi
MF 24
FW 23 Ahmed Ahmedov
Manager:
Miloš Kruščić
GK 71
CB 61
CB 25
CB 20 Miloš Petrović
RM 9
CM 10
CM 34
LM 50
AM 16
CF 14 Dimitar Iliev (c)
CF 77
Substitutes:
GK 1
DF 4 Akinshola Akinyemi
MF 7
MF 13
MF 44
FW 11 Kenan Muslimović
FW 23
Manager:
Bruno Akrapović
<--Man of the Match:
-->Assistant referees


Martin Margaritov (Plovdiv)
Diyan Valkov (Varna)
Fourth official


Nikola Popov (Sofia)

Match rules
  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Seven named substitutes.
  • Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History for Sofia, Bulgaria . Weather Wunderground . 1 July 2020 . 1 July 2020.
  2. Web site: 2019–20 Bulgarian Cup . bulgarian-football.com.
  3. Web site: Решения след работната среща между ръководството на БФС и държавните власти . Bulgarian Football Union. 27 June 2020.
  4. Web site: 14 месеца по-късно! ЦСКА-София отмъсти на Ботев Пд, "червените" са на финал! (видео+галерия) . sportal.bg . 24 June 2019. bg.
  5. Web site: София громи Пловдив на финал за Купата на България - 15:0. topsport.bg . 29 June 2020 . 11 July 2020.
  6. Web site: Момчил Цветанов може да изравни рекорда по купи. sportal.bg . 1 July 2020 . 4 July 2020.