The winner of the Bulgarian Cup Neftochimic 2010 (Burgas) dealt a heavy blow to the ambitions of champion Levski Sofia, after defeating them 3:1 (25:23, 23:25, 27:25, 25:20) as guests in final #3 of efbet Super Volley. Thus, the Burgas team reduced their deficit to 1-2 victories in the series and brought the pressure back before the fourth clash. Despite the strong support in the 'Levski Sofia' hall, 'the Blues' failed to maintain their level in key moments. The match was watched by almost the entire board of the BFV, national coach Gianlorenzo Blengini, as well as Vladimir Nikolov, who will be sworn in as a member of parliament tomorrow.
Levski started confidently and controlled the first set until the middle, but Neftochimic showed character at the end and turned the tide after a series of strong serves and effective counter-attacks. The Burgas team took advantage of fluctuations in the hosts' reception and closed the set with a decisive block. This set the tone for the match and created tension in the champions' ranks.
In the second set, 'the Blues' reacted and demonstrated more stable play in blocking and attacking. Julian Weisig took on a leadership role, and Todor Skrimov added important points in crucial situations. Levski withstood the pressure at the end and leveled the score after better organization in defense and counter-attack phases.
The third set became the most dramatic moment of the match, with constant comebacks and ties. Both teams showed a high level of play, but Neftochimic was calmer in the decisive rallies. Stoyan Dimitrov and Stefan Chavdarov led their team to success with strong attacks and key blocks at the end.
In the fourth set, the guests asserted control from the beginning and gradually extended their lead. Levski made more unforced errors, and Neftochimic capitalized on every situation. The stable serving and blocking play of the Burgas team ultimately tipped the scales in their favor.
Stoyan Dimitrov was the top scorer for the winners with 23 points, while Ricardo Junior added 16, and Stefan Chavdarov contributed 14. For Levski, Julian Weisig scored 19 points, Todor Skrimov finished with 13, and Lazar Buchkov added 11.
Team statistics:
| Statistic | Levski | Neftochimic |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 12 | 9 |
| Attack % | 42% | 53% |
| Attack points | 43 | 62 |
| Positive reception | 53% | 57% |
| Perfect reception | 19% | 25% |
| Aces | 4 | 2 |
| Service errors | 19 | 24 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 34 | 27 |
| Total points | 93 | 100 |
Neftochimic won the match primarily due to significantly higher attack efficiency – 53% versus 42%, which translated into a substantial difference of 62 to 43 points. Levski compensated with more blocks and points from opponent's errors, but this was not enough. The better reception of the Burgas team also allowed for more varied and successful offensive play.
The fourth match in the series is on May 2nd in Burgas, where Neftochimik will seek to equalize, and Levski – to close out the final.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov
