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World Cup qualifiers: Poor second half sees Northern Ireland suffer disappointing loss to Bulgaria

Conor Bradley
Liverpool’s Conor Bradley made an impressive first start for Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s slim World Cup qualification hopes were ended as a second-half collapse saw them lose 2-1 to Bulgaria in Sofia.

A Conor Washington goal in the 35th minute, awarded after a lengthy VAR review, gave Ian Baraclough’s men a deserved one-goal lead at half-time.

However, NI looked sluggish after the break and two fine strikes from Todor Nedelev won it for the hosts.

Northern Ireland drop down to fourth in Group C, with Bulgaria overtaking them.

Baraclough’s men went into the contest knowing that only a victory would keep alive their small hopes of finishing second in the group and securing the World Cup play-off place that it brings.

However, with Tuesday’s defeat coming three days after a controversial loss to Switzerland – who beat Lithuania in Group C’s other fixture on Tuesday – Northern Ireland are now nine points behind the second-placed Swiss with only two qualifiers left to play against Lithuania and Italy in Belfast.

Washington’s goal for Northern Ireland came from a superb curling cross from the right by Paddy McNair that was met by Josh Magennis, whose header was too close to goalkeeper Ivan Karadzhov, who saved well.

The ball dropped to Washington who fired home the rebound but the goal was ruled out for offside before being awarded after a VAR review showed the striker to be onside.

Bulgaria started the second half strongly and Nedelev equalised with a fine left-foot strike in the 53rd minute and the same player hit the winner 10 minutes later, this time finding the top corner from 20 yards with an excellent left-foot curler.

Bradley impressive as NI make strong start

Conor Washington
Northern Ireland had not lost a match in which Washington had scored until Tuesday night

Northern Ireland’s struggle to score goals has been well documented for a long time now, and it ultimately came back to haunt them once again as a series of good chances were missed during a 20-minute spell in the first half.

After a drab opening period when the lack of supporters in the stadium seemed to accentuate the flatness of the performance from both sides, Northern Ireland found some attacking vigour in the 17th minute as Washington latched on to a long ball over the top.

He used his body well to lay the ball off to Shane Ferguson on the left flank and he produced a perfect curling cross that was met at the back post by Paddy McNair but he did not get enough power behind his point-blank header and allowed goalkeeper Ivan Karadzhov to make an excellent save.

From the resulting corner, a Craig Cathcart flick-on found Washington in space at the back post but his snapshot went into the ground first and again Karadzhov made an impressive when Northern Ireland really should have scored, with Jordan Thompson also threatening with a couple of shots from distance.

Eighteen-year-old Liverpool youngster Conor Bradley started a Northern Ireland match for the first time and produced an impressive and confident performance at right wing-back.

With Shane Ferguson doing likewise on the opposite flank, the Castlederg native’s starting position was always high up the pitch and he was a continual outlet for Northern Ireland attacks with his powerful running, while carrying out his defensive duties efficiently.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Bulgaria

Formation 4-3-1-2

  • 23Karadzhov
  • 2Turitsov
  • 5Hristov
  • 3Hristov
  • 21Velkovski
  • 4TsonevSubstituted forIlievat 45′minutes
  • 18Chochev
  • 8NedelevSubstituted forYankovat 73′minutes
  • 14TsonevSubstituted forMalinovat 73′minutesBooked at 88mins
  • 19IlievSubstituted forKrastevat 80′minutes
  • 11DespodovSubstituted forBozhikovat 90+3′minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Lukov
  • 6Karagaren
  • 7Yankov
  • 9Delev
  • 10Kirilov
  • 12Vitanov
  • 13Vutsov
  • 15Bozhikov
  • 16Malinov
  • 17Krastev
  • 20Iliev
  • 22Iliev

Northern Ireland

Formation 5-3-2

  • 1Peacock-Farrell
  • 2BradleySubstituted forJonesat 68′minutes
  • 4BallardBooked at 69minsSubstituted forMcGinnat 82′minutes
  • 20Cathcart
  • 5Flanagan
  • 11Ferguson
  • 17McNair
  • 8Davis
  • 15Thompson
  • 9WashingtonSubstituted forCharlesat 82′minutes
  • 21MagennisSubstituted forDallasat 67′minutesBooked at 88mins

Substitutes

  • 7McGinn
  • 10Charles
  • 12Hazard
  • 13Winchester
  • 14Dallas
  • 16Jones
  • 18Smyth
  • 19McCalmont
  • 22Brown
  • 23Hughes

Referee:
Aleksey Kulbakov

Match Stats

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Bulgaria 2, Northern Ireland 1.

  2. Second Half ends, Bulgaria 2, Northern Ireland 1.

  3. Offside, Bulgaria. Ilian Iliev tries a through ball, but Dominik Yankov is caught offside.

  4. Substitution, Bulgaria. Vasil Bozhikov replaces Kiril Despodov.

  5. Attempt missed. Kiril Despodov (Bulgaria) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Kaloyan Krastev.

  6. Corner, Northern Ireland. Conceded by Ilian Iliev.

  7. Attempt blocked. Stuart Dallas (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Jones.

  8. Foul by Tom Flanagan (Northern Ireland).

  9. Kaloyan Krastev (Bulgaria) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  10. Kristiyan Malinov (Bulgaria) is shown the yellow card.

  11. Stuart Dallas (Northern Ireland) is shown the yellow card.

  12. Foul by Stuart Dallas (Northern Ireland).

  13. Ivan Turitsov (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Attempt blocked. Shane Ferguson (Northern Ireland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  15. Patrick McNair (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  16. Foul by Kristiyan Malinov (Bulgaria).

  17. Attempt missed. Jordan Thompson (Northern Ireland) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.

  18. Dion Charles (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  19. Foul by Ivan Turitsov (Bulgaria).

  20. Attempt blocked. Jordan Thompson (Northern Ireland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

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