At 1:45 Central Daylight Time today, Ludogorets Razgrad will take on Steaua Bucharest in a game to decide who will advance to the Group Stages of the UEFA Champions' League -- the most prestigious club soccer competition in the world. Ludogorets is trying to become only the second team from Bulgaria to reach the Group Stages.
Last week, in the first leg of this two-leg match, Steaua Bucharest scored a late goal to pick up a 1-0 victory. So Ludogorets has to win today to have any chance -- and if Steaua Bucharest scores, then Ludogorets will have to win by at least two goals (otherwise they will lose on away goals).
Here are the latest odds to advance to the Group Stages:
Steaua Bucharest: 2 to 5
Lugodorets Razgrad: 7 to 4
After 35 minutes:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets Razgrad 0 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
Steaua Bucharest leads 1-0 on aggregate
AUUGGGH! Ludogorets had a great chance just before half, but could not finish.
ReplyDeleteAt the half:
Ludogorets Razgrad 0 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
Steaua Bucharest leads 1-0 on aggregate
Commentary from Bulgaria, as taken from the UEFA web page:
ReplyDeleteStoyan Georgiev, Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski: The 0-0 draw at half-time seems fair. Both sides have had one or two good chances with the best coming for Vura Misidjan. As the game goes on, Ludogorets must risk more. Younes Hamza, who is on the bench, is a good option in attack.
After 65 minutes:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets Razgrad 0 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
Steaua Bucharest leads 1-0 on aggregate
After 70 minutes:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets Razgrad 0 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
Steaua Bucharest leads 1-0 on aggregate
The action has been fast and furious, with Ludogorets pressing forward. But so far they have not been able to get the equalizer that they so desperately need.
After 78 minutes:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets Razgrad 0 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
Steaua Bucharest leads 1-0 on aggregate
It's getting very chippy out there; the referee has handed out four yellow cards to Ludogorets, and three to Steaua.
So far, Ludogorets have had 7 shots on goal, to only 1 for Steaua. But they have yet to score.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, in North London, Arsenal are in a playoff game with Besiktas (a Turkish team). Arsenal lead 1-0 on the night, and 1-0 on aggregate, but they are down to 10 men after one of their players just got a red card. If Besiktas can score, they will advance on away goals. Nick Hornby is about to be miserable for at least 20 minutes.
ReplyDeleteWith time running out in Sofia, UEFA reports that "Ludogorets continue to attack Steaua in waves" and that "We are all set for a very nervous finish."
ReplyDeleteAfter 84 minutes:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets Razgrad 0 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
Steaua Bucharest lead 1-0 on aggregate
GO, LUDOGORETS! GOOOOOO!
ReplyDeleteAfter 90 minutes:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets Razgrad 0 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
Steaua Bucharest lead 1-0 on aggregate
LUDOGORETS HAVE SCORED! Wanderson, a Brazilian striker who came on as a substitute in the 85th minute, scores an amazing goal -- volleying in a beautiful shot from the edge of the Steaua penalty area.
ReplyDeleteAfter 92 minutes:
Ludogorets Razgrad 1 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
The match is tied 1-1 on aggregate
After full time:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets Razgrad 1 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
The match is tied 1-1 on aggregate
We go on to 30 minutes of extra time.
GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's a Vine of the goal.
ReplyDeleteHere's the commentary from UEFA as we head to extra time:
ReplyDelete"Ludogorets undoubtedly have the momentum going into the first half of extra time, but is their side balanced after bringing on a number of attacking players to force an equaliser?"
Arsenal made it! They have hung on for a 1-0 victory that sends them into the Group Stages.
ReplyDeleteAfter 93 minutes:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets 1 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
The match is tied 1-1 on aggregate
So far Ludogorets remains on the attack. They're about to take a corner.
This is the only match in the Playoff Round that has yet to be decided. The eyes of Europe are now on Bulgaria.
After 100 minutes:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets 1 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
The match is tied 1-1 on aggregate
Ludogorets have had 10 shots on goal in this match. Steaua have had 1.
ReplyDeleteAfter 105 minutes:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets 1 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
The match is tied 1-1 on aggregate
We're halfway through extra time. If we're still tied in 15 minutes, the last spot in the Group Stages will be decided by penalty kicks.
After 110 minutes:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets 1 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
The match is tied 1-1 on aggregate
Ten minutes to go.
UEFA tells us that the game is getting "scrappy." Given that the referee has handed out nine yellow cards so far, that's saying something.
ReplyDeleteGOLUDOGOLUDOGOLUDOGO!
ReplyDeleteAfter 113 minutes:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets Razgrad 1 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
The match is tied 1-1 on aggregate
Here's the latest from UEFA:
Stoyan Georgiev, Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski: It seems both sides are playing it safe. Looking for the penalty shoot-out.
After 115 minutes:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets Razgrad 1 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
The match is tied 1-1 on aggregate.
It is now 12:08 A.M. in Bulgaria.
OH, NO! In the 119th minute of the match -- only a few minutes from penalty kicks -- the Ludogorets goalkeeper has been given a RED CARD. He is OUT OF THE GAME!
ReplyDeleteWell, this is insane.
ReplyDeleteThe Ludogorets goalkeeper, Vladislav Stoyanov, apparently crashed into a Steaua player who was in the box. For that collision, he was given a second yellow card -- which counts as a red card. He is out of the game.
ReplyDeleteLudogorets have used all of their substitutions, so they cannot insert a back-up goalkeeper.
After Extra Time:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets Razgrad 1 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
The match is tied 1-1 on aggregate
We are going to penalty kicks. But Ludogorets has no goalkeeper!
There is a Twitter report that the outfielder moving to the goal is from Romania.
ReplyDeleteThat report is correct. See below.
DeleteCosmin Moti, who normally plays defender for Ludogorets, will be in goal for the penalty kicks. Ironically, he is Romanian.
ReplyDeleteIt gets better. Moti spent seven years playing for Dinamo Bucharest -- Steaua's main rival.
ReplyDeleteLatest from the UEFA web page:
ReplyDeleteStoyan Georgiev, Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski: The fans are chanting the name of Cosmin Moţi.
In goal for Ludogorets: Cosmin Iosif Moți, 29-year-old from Reșița, Romania.
ReplyDeleteSUDDEN DEATH!
ReplyDeleteHigh drama in Sofia!
ReplyDeleteFirst, Cosmin Moti -- who is about to go in as goalkeeper -- scores a penalty kick for Ludogorets. Then Steaua scores. Then Wanderson -- who scored the only goal in this game -- has his penalty saved. Steaua now appears to be home free, as Ludogorets is not using a regular goalkeeper. BUT MOTI SAVES THE NEXT PENALTY! After that, each side makes the remaining penalties. So the teams are tied 4-4 after five penalty kicks.
NOW WE GO TO SUDDEN DEATH PENALTY KICKS.
COME ON, Moți!
ReplyDeleteLUDOGORETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBULGARIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIn the first round of sudden death, both sides make their penalty kicks.
ReplyDeleteIn the second round, Ludogorets makes another penalty kick -- they've now made five in a row. Now it's up to Steaua to tie.
ReplyDeleteUNCONFIRMED TWITTER REPORTS INDICATE THAT Moți HAS MADE ANOTHER SAVE!
ReplyDeleteBUT NO!!! THE PENALTY IS SAVED BY COSMIN MOTI -- A DEFENDER STANDING IN AS GOALKEEPER!!! LUDOGORETS WIN 6-5 ON PENALTY KICKS. THEY ARE GOING TO THE GROUP STAGES OF THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.
ReplyDeleteSundayLeagueHipster @HipsterManager 2m
ReplyDeleteLUDOGORETS HAVE DONE IT, BOW DOWN TO YOUR GOD MOTI!
4:31 PM - 27 Aug 2014
boom! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHere is the rather understated report from UEFA:
ReplyDelete"A quite sensational finish. Defender Cosmin Moţi stepped up to take the gloves after Vladislav Stoyanov was sent off late on, and he has produced two saves in the penalty shoot-out to put Ludogorets into the group of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history."
The live jinx is dead, baby. THE LIVE JINX IS DEAD!!! COSMIN MOTI KILLED THE LIVE JINX!!!!
ReplyDeleteIn some ways, that's the most impressive part of his performance.
DeleteThis is one of the most amazing stories I have ever seen. GO, LUDOGORETS!!!
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness, I never, ever thought Ludogorets would win this game. I am simply stunned.
ReplyDeleteHere's a Vine of the first pens save.
ReplyDeleteAfter Extra Time:
ReplyDeleteLudogorets Razgrad 1 - 0 Steaua Bucharest
The match was tied 1-1 on aggregate
Ludogorets Razgrad wins 6-5 on penalties.
The A's are going to win the freaking World Series.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, there are only about 34,000 people who live in Razgrad, and the stadium where Ludogorets normally plays its home games seats about 6,000 people. It's as if Paducah qualified to play in the NFL.
ReplyDeleteOh, do you mean the fifth-smartest city in the world per National Geographic, Paducah, Ky.?
DeleteEric, imagine if Paducah got to play six games against NFL teams.
DeleteI know. Amazing. I wonder if Jamie Jones is available to play tailback.
DeleteOne more comment from UEFA:
ReplyDelete"A reminder Cosmin Moţi played for Steaua's arch-rivals, FC Dinamo Bucureşti, for seven years. Tonight, the defender has produced heroics as a goalkeeper to see his team through to tomorrow's UEFA Champions League group stage draw."
OK, so 32 teams -- including Ludogorets Razgrad -- have now qualified for the Group Stages of the Champions League. Tomorrow those 32 teams will be drawn into eight groups of four teams each. The draw is seeded in the hopes that each group will be about equally strong. Ludogorets will, of course, be the lowest seeded team in its group.
ReplyDeleteLudogorets will play two games (home and home) against each of the other three teams in its group. (Of course, I am assuming that Ludogorets will have to play its "home" games in Sofia.) So that's a total of six group games, which will be played from mid-September to early December. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout stages.
We'll be back tomorrow with an update to tell you who Ludogorets has drawn.
"Ludogorets" is currently NUMBER ONE on Twitter's Worldwide Trends.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, there are reports that even Bulgaria's national stadium in Sofia is not good enough for a Champions' League Group Stage match. Ludogorets might have to play their "home" games outside of Bulgaria.
ReplyDeleteIf that happens, honestly, Ludogorets should just pull out of the tournament and issue a challenge to the tournament champion to play home and-home on their field and ours. And if the tournament champion does not follow through on the challenge, then President Obama should enact a law that any document on any server located on U.S. soil must recognize Ludogorets as Unofficial Champions League Champion (UCLC, blog.tuclc.com) any time the 2014 Champions League is mentioned.
ReplyDelete