BISTRITSA, Bulgaria (Interstat) — Benaissa Benamar scored once and Atanas Iliev added two goals as FK CSKA 1948 Sofia overcame an early deficit to rout Spartak Varna 6-1 at Stadion Vitosha in Bistritsa (Bistrica) on Friday. CSKA 1948 scored six unanswered goals after Spartak Varna opened the scoring. Hector Cuellar and Georgi Rusev also scored for the hosts, while Anton Ivanov scored for Spartak Varna. Emerson Barbosa provided an assist, E. Franco scored and was booked, and Jota Lopes assisted on Spartak Varna’s goal. The hosts controlled play after the opening exchange and turned a one-goal deficit into a lopsided result on the night.

Spartak Varna struck first in the 20th minute when Jota Lopes set up Ivanov, but the lead lasted only two minutes. Franco equalized for CSKA 1948 in the 22nd, and Benamar put the hosts ahead in the 28th. The first half included yellow cards for Spartak Varna’s Tshitoku J. in the 10th minute and CSKA 1948’s Franco in the 14th. CSKA 1948 carried a 2-1 advantage into halftime and then pulled away after the break. The early goal gave Spartak Varna a brief lift, but CSKA 1948 answered quickly and never trailed again.

Iliev scored in the 48th minute, Rusev made it 4-1 in the 59th, Cuellar added the fifth in the 67th and Iliev completed his brace in the 82nd. Barbosa assisted on one of the second-half goals. Spartak Varna’s Bua was cautioned in the 85th minute. The visitors made substitutions at halftime and in the 61st and 72nd minutes, while CSKA 1948 changed players at halftime and in the 68th minute. The six-goal outburst was the decisive part of the match, with CSKA 1948 repeatedly breaking through after the interval. The hosts’ pressure produced goals in quick succession and removed any doubt about the outcome.

Benamar scored in the 28th minute. Iliev scored twice in 44 minutes, finding the net in the 48th and 82nd. Cuellar scored in the 67th, Rusev in the 59th, Ivanov in the 20th, Barbosa recorded an assist, Franco scored in the 22nd and was booked in the 14th, and Jota Lopes recorded an assist in the 20th. CSKA 1948’s scoring run began with Franco’s response and continued through Benamar’s go-ahead goal before halftime. Iliev then struck early in the second half, and Rusev, Cuellar and Iliev again finished the visitors off. Spartak Varna used substitutions at halftime and in the 61st and 72nd minutes, including the removal of Ivanov and Jota Lopes after the hour mark. CSKA 1948 made changes at halftime and in the 68th minute. The yellow cards were issued to Tshitoku, Franco and Bua.

The result moved FK CSKA 1948 Sofia to 2-1 in the competition and 3-1 across all competitions. Spartak Varna fell to 1-2 in the competition and 2-2 overall. CSKA 1948 had entered after a 4-0 home win over Botev Plovdiv and a 4-0 road win at Neftochimic Burgas, while Spartak Varna had lost 2-0 at Dunav Ruse in its previous match. Spartak Varna also had a 4-2 win at Etar and a 1-0 win at Botev Vratsa earlier in the season. CSKA 1948’s previous result was a 3-2 home loss to CSKA Sofia. CSKA 1948’s sustained pressure produced six goals after Spartak Varna’s early strike, and the hosts protected the result through the final whistle.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 final score. Interstat’s ELO system gave FK CSKA 1948 Sofia a 79.8 percent pregame win probability. FK CSKA 1948 Sofia was installed as a -1.5 favorite, and the total of 7 went under the 2.75 over/under line.