Sportist Svoge 1–0 FC Hebar Pazardzhik
Bulgarian Vtora Liga – 23 May 2026

A solitary first‑half goal was enough for Sportist Svoge to claim a hard‑fought 1–0 victory over FC Hebar Pazardzhik at the Stadion Chavdar Tsvetkov. The result continues Sportist’s push for a top‑half finish, while Hebar’s playoff hopes suffered another setback.

Tight contest settled by early goal

The match was a tense affair, with both defences on top for long periods. The decisive moment arrived in the 23rd minute. Sportist Svoge’s right‑back Nikolay Todorov overlapped and delivered a pinpoint cross that forward Vladislav Ivanov met with a glancing header into the far corner. Hebar Pazardzhik had no clear response in the first half as Sportist sat deep and protected their lead.

Hebar’s second‑half pressure repelled

After the break, Hebar dominated possession and created several half‑chances. Their best opportunity came in the 67th minute when substitute striker Georgi Dimitrov headed just over from a corner. Sportist goalkeeper Petar Petrov was called into action twice in quick succession, making smart saves to preserve the clean sheet. The home side’s disciplined defensive shape ensured Hebar never truly looked like equalising.

Standout performer

Sportist’s centre‑back pairing of Martin Hristov and Kristiyan Stoyanov were outstanding, winning every aerial duel and making crucial last‑ditch tackles. They were ably supported by goalkeeper Petrov, whose commanding performance earned him the man‑of‑the‑match award.

Table impact

The win moves Sportist Svoge up to 12th place in the Vtora Liga, now comfortably clear of the relegation zone. For FC Hebar Pazardzhik, this defeat leaves them in 5th place, but their grip on a playoff spot has weakened – they are now only two points ahead of the chasing pack. Hebar have now lost back‑to‑back away matches, a run they will need to halt to secure a top‑six finish.