LUDOGORETS RAZGRAD 2 Despodov 14′, Tekpetey 72′
FERENCVAROS 1 Mmaee 48′
By SCM Sports Writer in Razgrad
LUDOGORETS proved they are the real deal in Europe tonight, digging deep to secure a gritty 2-1 victory over Hungarian titans Ferencvaros.
In a clash that had more bite than a cold night in Sofia, the Bulgarian champions showed exactly why the Huvepharma Arena is becoming a graveyard for visiting giants.
The hosts flew out of the traps, and it didn’t take long for the pressure to tell. Kiril Despodov—the man they call the “Bulgarian Figo”—lived up to the hype in the 14th minute. After a slick passing move carved the Fradi defense open like a Sunday roast, Despodov kept his cool to slot home, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
The Fightback
Ferencvaros, backed by a noisy traveling contingent, weren’t about to roll over. They came out for the second half with a point to prove.
Just three minutes after the restart, Ryan Mmaee silenced the home support, pouncing on a loose ball in the box to level the scores.
For a moment, it looked like the momentum had shifted.
The Hungarians began to dominate the ball, looking for a winner that would have put them in the driving seat of the group.
But Ludogorets have a bit of steel about them this year. Weathering the storm, they struck back with a devastating counter-attack in the 72nd minute.
Bernard Tekpetey proved to be the hero of the hour, unleashing a rocket that left the keeper with no chance.
Despite a frantic final ten minutes where Ferencvaros threw the kitchen sink at the Bulgarian goal, the Ludogorets backline held firm to claim all three points.
It’s a massive result for the “Eagles,” who now look like genuine contenders to progress deep into the knockout stages.
As for Ferencvaros, they’ll be heading back to Budapest wondering how they let this one slip.
