levski make bulgarian history published: wednesday 23 august 2006, 23.45cet ac chievo verona 2-2 pfc levski sofia (agg: 2-4) levski triumphed to become the first bulgarian side to play in the group stage.
pfc levski sofia became the first bulgarian side to qualify for the uefa champions league group stage after a 2-2 draw against ac chievo verona at the bentegodi stadium completed a 4-2 aggregate win.
dispiriting blow chievo tried to attack from the first minute but levski goalkeeper georgi petkov had little problem in blocking shots from andrea zanchetta and federico giunti. he made a more difficult save to stop brazilian striker amauri's close-range header after 27 minutes, and seven minutes later his side were ahead on the night as dimitar telkiyski controlled a ball inside chievo's area with his right foot before angling a precise low shot past chievo goalkeeper vincenzo sicignano with his left.
bardon strike chievo visibly wilted and valeri domovchiyski might have doubled the visitors' lead, heading just over the bar after 41 minutes and forcing sicignano into a difficult save three minutes later with a right-footed volley. half-time proved to be little comfort as cédric bardon scored levski's second straight after the interval with a low, right-footed shot from outside the penalty area.
chievo respond the italian side stirred back into life and were back in the game within two minutes as amauri scored with a header from zanchetta's corner. zanchetta went close to scoring again moments later but petkov made a great diving save to fend off his shot from outside the area before amauri subsequently volleyed in chievo's equaliser after 84 minutes. the italian side could not complete an unlikely comeback however as both sides ended the game with ten men after chievo captain salvatore lanna and levski's lucio wagner were both sent off in quick succession in the closing stages.
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