2024-03-24 11:20:46
The mayor of Ikhtiman Kaloyan Iliev was impressed by the unique series of “Botev” in the Southwest “B” group. The team was in 11th place after the autumn half-season, but has not lost since the beginning of spring, including against the leader “Miner” (Pernik) and is currently in sixth place with 40 points, being only 4 from third.
Before the first match with “Septemvri II”, Mayor Iliev personally entered the dressing room to greet the players and coach Valeri Svilenov.
Since the beginning of the half-season, Ikhtimanci have scored 0:0 (“Kostinbrod”), 2:2 (“Balkan”, Botevgrad), 2:1 (“Slivniški hero”) and 1:1 (“Minyor”, Pernik) in their away games. At home they have three consecutive victories – 2:0 over “Levski II”, 2:1 over FC CSKA 1948 III and 1:0 over “Septemvri Sofia II”.
When visiting Pernik, “Botev” took the lead with a goal by Ioan Marinov after a corner in the first half. The referee then missed a penalty for Ikhtimanci after Trifonov was brought down in the penalty area to set up Ivanov’s equaliser.
Since the beginning of the half-season, it has been noticeable that the law student Ivan Dermendzhiev has been in goal for Botev, who has conceded only 5 goals in 6 games, two of which were away from home in Botevgrad. Dermendzhiev was the third goalkeeper in “Slavia” and “Eter”, but he did not get a chance. The 23-year-old guard also has 1 game in the elite with “Tsarsko Selo”.
In the next round, “Botev” (Ikhtiman) hosts “Septemvri” (Simitli), which is 14th in the ranking.