Ludogorets Academy players – Key to the crucial victory of the U17 National Team

Ludogorets Academy talents Maxim Minkov and Iliyan Gatinski played a pivotal role in the decisive victory of Bulgaria’s U17 National Team.

Minkov was at the heart of both goals in the team’s 2:0 win over Luxembourg, a result that came in the third and final match of the European qualifying round held in Malta. After winning all their group matches, the young "Lions" advanced to the next stage of the tournament. The final game against Luxembourg proved critical in determining which team would move forward.

Minkov was directly involved in both goals. He opened the scoring himself in the 48th minute, netting a well-placed shot to make it 1:0. Just ten minutes later, he once again found himself in the right place at the right time and fired a shot at goal that struck the hand of a Luxembourg defender, resulting in a penalty. The converted spot-kick sealed the final score and the victory for the young Bulgarian side.

Both Maxim Minkov and Iliyan Gatinski delivered strong performances across all three of Bulgaria’s matches in the European qualifiers. Their contributions were instrumental in helping the U17 team progress to the next phase of the competition.