Bulgaria 1-2 Ireland
Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.
It’s been a low-key build-up to this game and the enthusiasm in Plodiv does not seem high, with only around 5,000 fans expected tonight.
The match features two sides who have often flattered to deceive, with both regularly struggling to score at international level.
Ireland, as the team looking to avoid relegation rather than gain promotion, are perhaps slight favourites over two legs.
However, given their underwhelming form under Heimir Hallgrímsson and before him, it is hard to tip the Boys in Green for success with any real conviction.
But there is no doubt a win and ultimately avoiding relegation would be a significant morale boost, even against a Bulgarian side who look similarly out of sorts and whose coach’s resignation offer was reportedly rejected a couple of weeks ago.
Kick-off tonight is at 7.45pm.
Confirmation of Ireland’s starting XI, with the inclusion of Ryan Manning the biggest surprise…
STARTING XI | Bulgaria v Ireland
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) March 20, 2025
Troy Parrott, Mikey Johnston, Finn Azaz and Ryan Manning all start for Ireland in the first leg of the UEFA Nations League play-off 👏
Nathan Collins © with kick-off at 7.45pm (9.45pm local time) this evening 🇮🇪
Come on Ireland 💚 pic.twitter.com/blA8y8hwM0
We’re underway…
2 mins: It’s been a decent start by Ireland.
Manning finds himself in a promising position out wide but his cross goes straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
5 mins: Azaz’s deep cross finds Manning at the far post.
However, the Southampton star’s header is straight at the goalkeeper.
BULGARIA 1-0 IRELAND (PETKOV 6)
Bulgaria go ahead slightly against the run of play.
A lovely backheel from Krastev on the edge of the area creates space and Petkov’s clinical finish goes in off the post.
It’s a nice goal but the Irish defence afforded him far too much space.
14 mins: Collins’ attempted clearance falls to Despodov.
However, the skipper’s strike is straight at Kelleher.
After a promising start, Ireland are on the ropes
16 mins: Azaz’s cross finds the onrushing Manning.
But it’s a difficult chance and the Galway native can’t direct his header on target.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
After an easy save for the Bulgarian keeper from a Manning header, Bulgaria regain possession and Petkov puts the home side one ahead in the 5th minute.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 20, 2025
🇧🇬 1-0 🇮🇪
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IRELAND 1-1 BULGARIA (AZAZ 21)
Ireland are level thanks to Finn Azaz’s first international goal.
Brady’s cross finds Parrott, who does well to volley it across goal and Azaz is in the right place for an easy tap-in.
Here’s a look at the equaliser…
First senior international goal for Finn Azaz. Heads it into an empty net from a well controlled touch by Troy Parrott to put Ireland back on terms.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 20, 2025
🇧🇬 1-1 🇮🇪
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29 mins: Bulgaria break and Petkov threatens to score his second of the night.
But Collins gets a good block in to avert the danger.
32 mins: Penalty claims for Bulgaria as Despodov goes down in the area under a challenge from Manning.
But the Bulgaria player is penalised for a hand ball in the build-up.
Down the other end, Johnston plays Parrott through with a quick free quick.
The AZ player’s cross-shot misses the sliding Collins by inches and goes wide.
38 mins: Brady nearly finds Parrott with an incisive through pass.
But the Bulgaria player does well to make the interception and stop another threatening Ireland attack.
40 mins: Collins gives the ball away in a dangerous area.
Kelleher consequently has to be alert to make the save from Nedyalkov’s low shot.
BULGARIA 1-2 IRELAND (DOHERTY 42)
There was some doubt over whether Doherty would start tonight but he’s justified his selection in an instant.
Cullen plays a lovely crossfield pass for the Wolves man and he beats the goalkeeper Mitov to the ball with a brave header.
He gets a punch to his head from the ‘keeper as he scores but seems to be okay.
HALF-TIME: BULGARIA 1-2 IRELAND
Half-time and it’s been a fairly encouraging half from an Irish perspective.
The visitors went behind against the run of play thanks in part to some hesitant defending that Petkov capitalised on with a fine finish.
However, Hallgrímsson’s side recovered from this setback and scored two good goals by Azaz and Doherty, both of which stemmed from well-executed cross-field balls from Brady and Cullen respectively.
Bulgaria look like a team who are there for the taking and struggling with morale owing to their well-documented off-field issues.
So if Ireland can maintain their first-half performance level, they should have enough to travel back to Dublin with a first-leg advantage.
Here’s a look at the Doherty goal…
Matt Doherty saw his chance and took it to head Ireland into the lead just before the break, while also taking a bit of a knock from the keeper who goes down
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 20, 2025
🇧🇬 1-2 🇮🇪
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The second half has begun…
Bulgaria’s goalkeeper Mitov looked less than convincing in that first half.
Iliev has replaced him at the break.
47 mins: Azaz has been harshly booked for shrugging his Bulgarian opponent off the ball.
He was arguably Ireland’s best player in that first half.
Another soft yellow for Ireland as Johnston goes in the book.
There was a stray arm but Nürnberger went down very easily.
52 mins: There’s been a nasty clash of heads involving Brady and Kraev.
The Ireland player has come off worse but will hopefully be alright to continue
60 mins: Kraev has just been booked for a rash challenge on Knight.
It leaves Ireland with a free kick in a promising wide position.
But Brady’s delivery is touched well wide, with the referee deeming that Collins got the last touch.
63 mins: Atanasov clatters into O’Shea in the area from a Doherty throw-in.
But the referee ignores Ireland’s protests and instead awards Bulgaria a free-kick for a separate later incident.
72 mins: Bulgaria make a double change
Petkov and Nürnberger are off.
Kraev and Minkov are on.
75 mins: Ireland make a triple change.
Johnston, Parrott and Azaz are off.
Ferguson, Sykes and Taylor are on.
78 minutes: Ireland have defended pretty well so far in this second half.
Bulgaria have had plenty of possession without creating much.
79 mins: Ireland make a double change.
Vata and O’Brien replace Knight and Manning.
Looks like Doherty will play left-back now with O’Brien on the right and Brady further forward.
82 mins: Petkov gets away from Doherty and Brady.
However, O’Shea is in the right place to make a timely interception.
85 mins: Two more Bulgaria changes.
Iliev and Nikolov come on.
Krastev and Kraev go off.
88 mins: Ireland get a free kick in a great wide position but Brady hits it wastefully off target.
His set-piece delivery has been mixed tonight.
90 mins: Ireland break but Vata misplaces a pass intended for Ferguson.
A third goal would really put Ireland in control of this tie.
90 mins: Another promising break.
But Vata dwells on it this time and loses the ball.
Down the other end, Kraev finds himself in a promising position but his attempt is well off target.
As I type, Minkov is lucky to avoid a red for a poor high challenge on Ferguson.
FULL-TIME: BULGARIA 1-2 IRELAND
So that’s that.
A decent win under the circumstances.
Ireland played relatively well, getting two good goals in the first half with the early concession the only real black mark against them.
The second half was not a pretty watch.
Bulgaria had plenty of possession but created little, thanks in part to a well-organised Irish backline.
The visitors also had a few half-chances and look the most likely to score.
Heimir Hallgrímsson will be pleased with his side’s performance overall and should feel relatively optimistic ahead of Sunday’s second leg at the Aviva Stadium.
It’s unbelievable success for a small club in the south west of Ireland and huge credit must go to Dominic and his fellow club members