VRATSA, Bulgaria (Interstat) — Yantra Gabrovo scored three times in the opening 27 minutes and defeated Hebar 3-0 on Thursday at Stadion Hristo Botev in Vratsa. The home side took control early and never surrendered the lead. Yantra Gabrovo opened the scoring in the 13th minute, doubled its advantage in the 21st and added a third goal in the 27th. Hebar was unable to respond before halftime and trailed by three goals at the break. The visitors could not find a goal after the interval, and Yantra Gabrovo closed out the match without conceding. The result gave the home side a second win in this competition and kept its unbeaten record in the competition intact. Hebar, meanwhile, absorbed a second loss in the competition.

Hebar tried to push forward after falling behind, but Yantra Gabrovo held its shape and protected the area. The home side limited the visitors’ chances and kept the match from developing into a tense finish. Yantra Gabrovo’s defensive effort produced a clean sheet, while Hebar was left to deal with a difficult opening half-hour. The visitors remained active after the restart but could not convert possession into a goal. Yantra Gabrovo, playing at Stadion Hristo Botev, managed the closing stages without allowing Hebar back into the contest. Hebar’s attempts to reduce the deficit were repelled, and the home side maintained its three-goal advantage through the final whistle. The first goal changed the match state, and the second forced Hebar into a more urgent approach. A third goal before the half-hour mark gave Yantra Gabrovo a commanding cushion. Hebar continued to work through the midfield but found no breakthrough. Yantra Gabrovo’s back line dealt with the visitors’ advances and kept the ball away from danger.

Yellow cards were issued three times. Yantra Gabrovo received a yellow card in the 30th minute and another in the 55th. Hebar was booked in the 69th minute. The match remained without further goals after Yantra Gabrovo’s early burst. Hebar’s attempts to cut into the lead did not change the scoreline, and Yantra Gabrovo saw out the result. The home side’s clean sheet was preserved after the late booking against Hebar, and the visitors finished the match without a goal. No further goals followed in the closing minutes. The final whistle confirmed a home victory. Yantra Gabrovo finished with three goals and Hebar with none.

With the win, Yantra Gabrovo improved to 2 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw in this competition. Across all competitions, the club is now 3 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw. Hebar’s record in this competition stands at 3 wins and 2 losses, while its overall mark across all competitions is 5 wins and 2 losses. Yantra Gabrovo entered the match after a 3-3 draw at CSKA Sofia II, a 2-0 home loss to Lok. Plovdiv, a 1-0 home win over Vihren and a 3-1 win at Oborishte. Hebar entered after a 2-1 home win over Nesebar, a 4-1 win at Pirin Blagoevgrad, a 3-1 win at Svoge, a 5-0 win at Yambol 1915, a 2-1 home loss to Dobrudzha and a 5-0 win at Montana. Yantra Gabrovo’s latest result added three goals to its season account and kept the club unbeaten in this competition. Hebar’s loss left the visitors with three wins and two losses in the competition and five wins and two losses overall.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Yantra Gabrovo 1, Hebar 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Yantra Gabrovo with a 78.8 percent probability to win. Yantra Gabrovo had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.