FC Zenit vs Botev Plovdiv | Friendly match

On 22/01/2022 we organised a friendly match between FC Zenit (Russia) and Botev Plovdiv (Bulgaria). The match was held in NAS Sports Complex. Botev (Plovdiv) ended in a draw 2: 2 with Zenit (St. Petersburg). The control match was played on one of the pitches of the NAS sports complex in Dubai.

The two teams made a very interesting clash, filled with many goal situations. The Russians had the upper hand in terms of possession of the ball, but Plovdiv performed well and put up a serious resistance to one of the biggest teams in Russia.

The match consisted of two halves of 40 minutes each. In the 5th minute Todor Nedelev made a dangerous free kick in front of the penalty area, and the ball went inches from the crossbar.

Two minutes later, the Botev Plovdiv received a penalty for playing with the hand of a defender of Zenit. Behind the ball stood Todor Nedelev, who with a powerful shot sent the ball into the net for 1:0.

Massive pressure from the "blues" followed and the game was played entirely in the half of Botev. After a series of attacks without a serious threat to Hankic, in the 23rd minute Mostovoy received an excellent pass and remained face to face with Hankic, but the goalkeeper of Plovdiv intervened in the best way and saved.

In the 30th minute, Zenit's attack from the left ended with a cross, a player in blue intercepted and only Genev's excellent performance prevented a goal. In the ensuing corner, Dzyuba was left uncovered and tied close - 1: 1.

The second half started with two great positions for Botev. Seconds after the start of the second half, Emanuel Toku dribbled halfway through the field and went to the left to Brahimi, who deceived a defender and shot from a great position 10 meters from the door, but the Russian guard intervened brilliantly and parried the blow.

After less than 120 seconds, a strong shot by Nikolay Minkov from 25 meters made it difficult for the goalkeeper, who initially missed the ball, but then caught the ball. The Russians responded with a dangerous blow to Yerokin, who was killed by Argilashki.

There was pressure from Botev Plovdiv, who pushed the Russians into their own half. In the 55th minute Botev's multi-pass attack found Brahimi on the left, the fast-footed player ran over a defender and made a cross, but a defender shot in front of Minkov.

A minute later Marquinhos eliminated a defender on the right and centered, the goalkeeper intervened well and parried the attempt to hit Brahimi. Two more passes by Botev followed, after the first Rede Rabey centered very dangerously on the back post, and Genev missed the ball inches from the door.

Seconds later, a sharp cross was killed by a defender and the ball miraculously did not fly into the net. Just when the "yellow-blacks" controlled what was happening on the field, the team of Zenit reached the second goal.

Crossing from the right found an attacker who made a shot and after a ricochet the ball headed for the door. Georgi Argilashki intervened well and scored, but straight to Ozdoyev, who sent the ball into the net from a few meters.

After 64 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by Jürgen Schneider might have resulted in another goal for Kuzayev. In the 69th minute Argilashki intervened decisively - after a short commotion, a Zenit player found himself in a shooting position, but the goalkeeper shortened the corner to the striker and deflected the shot.

In the 71st minute, Botev Plovdiv pressed Zenit and managed to take the ball. Emanuel Toku found himself with the ball in front of the penalty area and shot from a clear position, but over the door. In the 76th minute, South made a striking mistake after shooting over the door from a few meters.

Marquinhos and South missed, before reaching the 78th minute, in which Botev received a second penalty, this time for a violation against Reda Rabey. Marquinhos took care of the performance and although the goalkeeper hit the corner of the Brazilian, the shot was very well aimed and the Botev Plovdiv reached a draw - 2:2. Full match Botev Plovdiv vs FC Zenit:

Highlights Botev Plovdiv vs FC Zenit:

Gallery:

Botev Plovdiv vs Legia Warsaw | Friendly match

On 15/01/2022 we organised a friendly match between Botev Plovdiv and Legia Warsaw from Poland. The match was held in Jebel Ali Shooting Club, with support of fans of fans of both clubs. Botev's team lost 0: 2 to Legia (Warsaw) in their first control during the camp in Dubai.

Botev played a strong first half, in which they created many goal positions, but failed to realize them. After the break, the pace of the game dropped and the situations in front of both doors were almost non-existent.

In the 4th minute Dimitar Tonev was brought face to face with the goalkeeper of Legia, but Artur Boruts intervened perfectly and parried the shot, thus the midfielder missed an excellent opportunity. In less than 180 seconds, the "yellow-blacks" made another serious omission.

A short corner kick and a short play sent the ball to Dimitar Tonev, who passed the ball between the defense and brought Brahimi alone against the goalkeeper of Legia. The attacking football player controlled and shot, and the ball went past the crossbar.

After the active start of the "yellow-blacks", the Poles took the lead. In the 16th minute, a mistake by Minkov led to a quick attack by Legia, which ended with an inaccurate shot from 20 meters on Pesqueira.

In the 27th minute Mohamed Brahimi made another good performance after the attacking player made a beautiful shot from medium distance, but the experienced Borutz intervened in the best way and took a corner.

In the 31st minute Marquinhos fought for the ball in the half of the Legion and shot from the edge of the penalty area, and Borutz with a new brilliant performance parried the shot. Thus came the 36th minute, in which Josue Pesqueira opened the scoring with a beautiful shot from the corner of the penalty area.

On several occasions Botev's defense failed to clear the ball and it landed in Josue, who transferred Georgi Argilashki with an elegant technical performance. By the end of the first half, Marquinhos scored with an inaccurate shot.

After the break, the pace of play slowed down, and many changes were made in the composition of both teams. In the first minutes of the second part, heavy rain fell over Dubai, but it lasted only ten minutes.

In the 52nd minute, Reda Rabey, who appeared at the break, made a weak shot, which did not hinder Borutz. The Whites responded with an inaccurate blow to Vietasca.

In the 71st minute Antoine Baroin scored with an inaccurate shot, and eight minutes later the Poles decided everything in the match with a second goal. Igor Strzalek was brought out alone against Georgi Argilashki and passed the ball under the plunge of the goalkeeper.

Two minutes later Reda Rabey made a very dangerous shot that sent the ball inches from the crossbar. Ciepiela missed with a header, and by the end of the match Lachezar Baltanov and Antoine Baroan missed positions for Botev.

Botev's next control in Dubai is on January 22 against Russian FC Zenit. Match gallery:

Ukraine Football 1 Interview | Maksim Karachentsev | Football Training Camps

Maksim Karachentsev, Authentic.Football Ukraine Country Manager, has provided insights to Ukranian football TV Channel Football 1 (Футбол 1) regarding upcoming winter camps. Maksim Karachentsev has a wide experience in football business, having supported finest Ukraine football clubs such as Shakhtar Donetsk, Metallist 1925, SC Dnipro and Zhitlobud-1 Kharkiv.