Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Septemvri Simitli beat Belasica Strumica 3-0 in a pre-season friendly at Arena Simitli. Nikolay Nikolov, Iliyan Petrov and Nikola Ivanov scored as the Bulgarian hosts dominated.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Septemvri controlled the opening period and took a deserved lead in the 22nd minute. Dobromir Pancharevski beat two defenders on the right flank and cut the ball back into the box, where 17-year-old Nikolay Nikolov was on hand to finish from close range for 1-0.
After the interval, Stoimenov introduced further young players from the squad, and the changes paid off quickly. Daniel Kartov drove down the right and delivered a low cross that Iliyan Petrov met first time in the six-yard box to double the lead.
Bobi Bozhinov missed a header from close range in the 65th minute that would have made it three, but the third goal arrived in the 85th minute. Petrov turned provider, releasing 17-year-old Nikola Ivanov through on goal, and the youngster coolly chipped the Belasica goalkeeper to complete the scoring.
The Turning Point
Kartov's penetrating run and cross early in the second half was the decisive moment. After a competitive first half in which Septemvri held only a one-goal lead, the second goal — scored within 15 minutes of the restart — forced Belasica to chase the game and opened the space for the third.
Key Performers
Nikolay Nikolov — The 17-year-old opened the scoring with a composed finish in the 22nd minute, showing maturity beyond his years in a pre-season fixture.
Iliyan Petrov — A goal and an assist. Petrov scored the crucial second goal and then set up Ivanov for the third with a perfectly weighted through-ball.
Nikola Ivanov — The other 17-year-old in the goal-scoring list, Ivanov showed composure to chip the goalkeeper one-on-one for the 85th-minute clincher.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The provider payload confirms a 0-3 final scoreline with no half-time score breakdown. Clean sheets matter in pre-season: Septemvri have now kept two clean sheets in four summer friendlies (2-0 vs Kyustendil, 3-0 vs Belasica). The three goals all came from open-play moves originating on the right flank, suggesting a tactical emphasis on width that produced results.
What It Means
This was Septemvri Simitli's fourth pre-season friendly of summer 2026, following a 2-0 win over Kyustendil (8 July), a 1-1 draw with Strumska Slava (11 July), and a 2-2 draw with Natsional Sofia (15 July). Belasica Strumica, who play in North Macedonia's Second League, used the fixture as part of their own pre-season build-up.
Septemvri conclude their pre-season programme against Albanian top-flight side Teuta at Arena Simitli on 22 July 2026, before the South-West Third League season begins. Belasica's next fixture was not confirmed at the time of writing.
Verdict
A controlled, professional pre-season performance from Septemvri Simitli. The young attacking trio of Nikolov, Petrov and Ivanov caused consistent problems and the clean sheet will please Stoimenov. Belasica offered little in reply, and the gulf between a Bulgarian Third League side and a North Macedonian Second Division side was evident on the day.
Rivalry since 2022
Belasica vs Septemvri Simitli Head to Head Results· 5
Belasica and Septemvri Simitli have met 5 times — Belasica won 1, Septemvri Simitli won 4, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2022. Septemvri Simitli leads the head-to-head with 4 victories from 5 meetings. A combined 11 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 2.20 per match (4 for the home side, 7 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 2 matches (40%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 2 games (40%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 3–1 in 2022.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 21 Jul 2026