The team from Burgas showed character and brought back the intrigue in the semi-final series, after defeating Lokomotiv Avia (Plovdiv) 3:1 (26:28, 25:20, 27:25, 25:16) in the fourth match at Mladost Hall.
The match started with an advantage for Neftochimic, which controlled the flow in the first set, but in the decisive moments, Lokomotiv showed greater effectiveness in counter-attack and snatched the set after a fierce battle.
In the second set, the scenario initially repeated itself, but this time the hosts maintained their level and without hesitation leveled the score.
The third set proved crucial. The Plovdiv team had the initiative and had the opportunity to take the lead twice in the match, but Neftochimic showed character, stabilized their game on block and in defense, and after a series of successful counter-attacks, turned the set around to take a 2:1 lead.
In the fourth set, equality was maintained until the middle, after which the Burgas team imposed complete superiority. In the decisive minutes, Martin Krastev literally broke the opponent with three consecutive aces, which definitively deterred Lokomotiv from any thought of a comeback. In this set, Neftochimic scored 5 aces, 10 points from attack, and 5 blocks, against 10 points from attack, just 1 ace, and 2 blocks for the guests, which clearly shows the dominance of the hosts in all elements.
Top scorers:
Neftochimic: Ricardo Junior 19 points (4 blocks, 1 ace), Martin Krastev 14 (incl. 3 aces in the fourth set), Adi Osmanovic 14, Kaloyan Balabanov 10 (2 aces)
Lokomotiv: Julien Georgiev 19 (2 aces, 2 blocks), Todor Valchev 18, Kristian Aleksov 15, Ivaylo Damyanov 10 (5 aces)
Team statistics:
| Metric | Neftochimic | Lokomotiv |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 17 | 11 |
| Attack (%) | 42% | 41% |
| Points from attack | 51 | 51 |
| Positive reception | 56% | 37% |
| Aces | 9 | 5 |
| Service errors | 15 | 18 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 26 | 22 |
| Total points | 103 | 89 |
The statistics clearly show Neftochimic's superiority in the key elements – block and serve. The equality in attack efficiency and points scored highlights that the difference came from other components. The significantly better reception by the Burgas team allowed them to play more variedly in attack, while the pressure from their serves disrupted Lokomotiv's organization. It was precisely this combination of serve and block that decided the match, especially in the final set.
Thus, the Bulgarian Cup holder tied the series at 2-2 wins, and everything will be decided in a fifth match in Plovdiv.
