Chernomorets 1919 Burgas vs Etar Veliko Tarnovo

Etar struck first through A. Atanasov in the 19th minute, but Chernomorets hit back ten minutes later when K. Kolev equalised in the 29th minute to make it 1-1 at half-time.

The match stayed level for over 45 minutes until Tsvetomir Tsanev broke the deadlock with a 76th-minute strike. The 23-year-old centre-forward then doubled his tally five minutes later, scoring again in the 81st minute to seal a 3-1 win for the visitors.

No cards were issued during the contest.

Tsanev's 76th-minute goal changed the match entirely. After a second half spent largely in stalemate following the 1-1 half-time score, Tsanev's finish gave Etar the lead with 14 minutes remaining. Chernomorets, who had been unbeaten in the previous four meetings between the sides, were forced to push forward, leaving space for Tsanev to add a second in the 81st minute and kill the contest.

• Tsvetomir Tsanev (Etar) — Match winner. The centre-forward, who joined Etar in 2025 from Kazanlak, scored twice in a five-minute spell (76', 81') to turn a 1-1 draw into a comfortable away win. His brace was the difference between the sides.
• A. Atanasov (Etar) — Opened the scoring in the 19th minute with the first goal of the match, giving Etar an early platform.
• K. Kolev (Chernomorets) — Scored the equaliser in the 29th minute to bring Chernomorets level before half-time, but his side could not build on it in the second period.

Player of the Match: Tsvetomir Tsanev (Etar Veliko Tarnovo)

Etar's four-match winless streak against Chernomorets (two draws, two defeats dating back to 2024) ended emphatically. The provider data shows four goals across the 90 minutes, all in open play, with no cards — characteristic of a pre-season friendly played at a measured tempo. Chernomorets had conceded four goals in their previous friendly (a 4-0 loss to Botev Plovdiv on 1 July), while Etar had shipped 13 in two friendlies before this match (6-0 vs Levski Sofia, 7-4 vs Ludogorets Razgrad). The defensive improvement for Etar — conceding only once — was as significant as their attacking output.

Etar Veliko Tarnovo, who finished 4th in the Bulgarian Second League in 2025-26, recorded their first win of summer pre-season preparations after two heavy defeats to top-tier sides. Chernomorets, who finished 6th, continue their search for their first pre-season win after losing to Botev Plovdiv and now Etar.

Both sides are building toward the 2026-27 Second League season, which is scheduled to start in late July 2026. Etar's next fixture is likely against OFC Nesebar on 25 July 2026, while Chernomorets face OFC Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa on the same date, as per the Second League calendar.

A tale of two halves for Etar and a missed opportunity for Chernomorets. After falling behind early, Chernomorets battled back to parity and held it for the entire second half until Tsanev's intervention. Etar's persistence paid off with two late goals, giving them a morale-boosting result ahead of the new season. Tsanev's finishing was the clear difference between the sides on the day.