Arda prevailed against Septemvri 4:1 upon the team's return from the capital to its stadium in Dragalevtsi after a 666-day break. The goals for Arda were scored by Serkan Yussein, Gustavo Cascardo and the reserves Svetoslav Kovachev and Antonio Vutov. Edney Ribeiro temporarily equalized for Septemvri in the middle of the first half. Arda climbed to sixth place in the standings and made a serious bid to remain in the second four after the regular season. Septemvri remained in 14th position, BTA reported.
The match started excellently for Arda's team. It was still the third minute when Atanas Kabov broke through from the left and crossed, and Serkan Yussein intercepted the ball and forcefully scored it into the net behind Nikolay Krastev. This was also the first goal at the Dragalevtsi stadium, where the match was played for the first time.
Septemvri responded with two chances, and in the 26th minute Edney Ribeiro successfully completed a solo move, holding off a defender on his back and scoring the ball with his left foot into the near corner for 1:1.
Arda failed to regain the lead before the end of the first half, despite having two good opportunities. In the 45th minute, Kabov fell in the penalty area, and the team from Kardzhali had claims for a penalty, which was not awarded by the referee Dimitar Dimitrov.
In the 61st minute, Lachezar Kotev brought out Gustavo Cascardo from the right, in which Kubrat Jonashchi was late and the guest player coolly shot past goalkeeper Nikolay Krastev, who had come out to close the corner, for 1:2.
Arda decided everything in the 68th minute, when Svetoslav Kovachev, who had come in as a reserve shortly before, was brought out and shot under Krastev's cross for his team's third goal.
Arda scored for the fourth time about ten minutes later, when Birsant Karagaren crossed from the left, and Antonio Vutov intercepted the ball and scored it into the goal.
In the next round after the break in championship Arda hosts Montana, while Septemvri will try to defeat Botev (Vratsa) at home in their fight for survival in the elite.