Jovićević blames red card for Ludogorets draw against CSKA 1948

Ludogorets were held to a 2-2 draw against CSKA 1948 despite holding a 1-0 lead until the 79th minute. The match dynamics shifted significantly after CSKA 1948 player Barbosa was sent off, yet Ludogorets subsequently conceded two goals in the final stages of the contest.

CSKA 1948 secured a point when Chochov scored an equalizer in the last second of the match. This late strike finalized the 2-2 scoreline after the visitors had already overturned the deficit despite playing with a numerical disadvantage.

Ludogorets head coach Igor Jovićević offered a specific explanation for the collapse, stating that the red card disrupted his team's rhythm. He explained that his players struggled to adapt because they had to run less and were unsure how to react to the changed tactical landscape.

According to Jovićević, possessing a numerical advantage inadvertently caused his squad to relax. He noted that the team stopped winning individual duels after the dismissal, contrasting sharply with their aggressive play and chance creation prior to the incident.

The manager insisted that the result did not reflect the expected outcome, asserting the match should have finished 4-0 or 5-0 in favor of Ludogorets. He theorized that teams reduced to ten men often increase their running and desire because they feel they have nothing to lose.

Jovićević identified a set piece as the catalyst for the opposition's comeback, noting that the first goal generated euphoria that led directly to the second. Despite expressing unhappiness at the finish, he maintained that Ludogorets deserves a top-four position but acknowledged the need to draw serious lessons from the failure to control the game's tempo.