One of CSKA's most stable and pragmatic matches since the start of the season led the "reds" among the top four in the Bulgarian Cup tournament. In "Arena SamElion" hall, Aleksandar Popov's team imposed its will over Deya Sport (Burgas) and after a 3:0 (26:24, 25:19, 27:25) victory, secured participation in the semifinals.
The success set up an intriguing semifinal clash, as tomorrow the capital's grand will face Pirin (Razlog), who earlier in the day eliminated the current trophy holder Levski Sofia. The match starts at 19:00.
Match development
The first set began dictated by the Burgas team, who took a 6:3 lead and controlled the game for a long time. Deya reached a 24:20 advantage, but precisely then CSKA's serve and block turned the tide of the set. A service run and two crucial blocks brought a complete comeback and a 26:24 score for the "armymen".
In the second set, the picture was more balanced. Deya again tried to set the rhythm early on, but gradually CSKA stabilized their reception and increased their attack efficiency. In the decisive rallies, the advantage in blocking and fewer unforced errors tipped the scales towards the "reds" – 25:19.
The third set became the most dramatic. CSKA pulled ahead 16:12, but a series of inaccuracies allowed Deya to equalize at 19:19. The Burgas team even led 24:21, but for the second time in the match, the serve proved to be a decisive factor. Another equalization followed at 24:24, and after a fierce battle at the end, the "armymen" closed the match with 27:25.
Individual statistics – leading scorers
| Team | Player | Points | Aces | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSKA | Nikolay Penchev | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| CSKA | Spas Bayrev | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Deya | Valentin Bratoev | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| Indicator | CSKA | Deya Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Attack points | 39 | 42 |
| Aces | 4 | 3 |
| Block points | 10 | 9 |
| Points from opponent errors | 25 | 14 |
| Total points | 78 | 68 |
The statistics clearly show the key difference in the match – Deya's errors, from which CSKA scored a total of 25 points. This indicator compensated for the slight advantage of the Burgas team in attack points (42 against 39).
The 'Army Men' also had a minimal advantage in serving (4:3 aces) and blocking (10:9), which solidified their overall superiority in the elements without the ball. Ultimately, better discipline and fewer self-inflicted errors proved decisive for CSKA's final 3:0 sets victory.
With this victory, CSKA demonstrated maturity and resilience in crucial situations – qualities that will be key in the upcoming semi-final against Pirin.
