Paul Corcoran
Sun, Mar 23 2025
Paul Corcoran reports from the Aviva Stadium
Republic of Ireland 2 (Ferguson 63’, Idah 84’)
Bulgaria 1 (Antov 30’)
The Republic of Ireland have retained their UEFA Nations League ‘B’ status after a 2-1 win over Bulgaria in the Relegation/Promotion Playoff at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday night (4-2 on aggregate).
After going behind in the first half, Ireland battled back once again with goals from Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah ensuring Ireland’s Nations League ‘B’ status once again.
The Republic of Ireland got on the front foot early on in this fixture with Finn Azaz threading a ball through into the path of Mikey Johnston and Troy Parrott inside the box in the third minute – with the intervention of Bulgaria’s Anton Nedyalkov breaking down the move and earning the home side a corner.
Jake O’Brien drew a save from Plamen Iliev with a header from the resulting corner with Nathan Collins almost nudging Ireland in front when he arrived at the back post with the rebound, the defender struck air rather than the ball, however.
The game settled down somewhat as time ticked towards the middle of the half, Johnston had a half chance when Robbie Brady fired a cross into the box, but the West Bromwich Albion man flicked his header wide of goal.
Ireland then showed either a touch of complacency or a lapse in concentration as both Collins and Josh Cullen sent the ball out of play on separate occasions with a touch of frustration audible from the stands after a bright start.
That touch of lethargy ended up costing the Boys in Green on the half hour mark when the visitors won a corner kick, the Bulgarian fans came to life for the first time this evening at this point.
Kiril Despodov dispatched the corner, the ball fell outside the box and was fired back in by Georgi Milanov striking Jake O’Brien, Valentin Antov reacted the quickest and flicked the ball towards goal as Caoimhin Kelleher watched the ball dribble into his goal.
Ireland went close from another corner just before half-time, O’Brien met Robbie Brady’s cross again, but this time Simeon Petrov was on the line to head the ball away from the goalmouth.
The Boys in Green started the second half the more attacking again with the opening ten minutes seeing Johnston and Finn Azaz firing wide after good moves.
Evan Ferguson had a gilt-edged chance in the 55th minute when Parrott caught Simeon Petrov in possession and flicked the ball to the striker – his shot drew a good save from Plamen Iliev.
Bulgaria created a couple of chances with Fabian Nuernberger drawing a save from Kelleher in the 57th minute and firing just wide a few minutes later.
But Ireland edged themselves back in front on aggregate with a moment of magic by Ferguson in the 63rd minute when the striker picked the ball up in midfield.
He took it forward before finding Azaz on the edge of the box – the midfielder then played the ball through to Ferguson who hammered the ball into the roof of the net at close range.
Heimir Halgrímsson went to his bench to introduce Ryan Manning, Adam Idah and Mark Sykes in the 66th minute but the substitution of note came in the 74th minute when Jimmy Dunne came into the game to replace Ferguson for his first appearance for the Republic of Ireland.
Some of those substitutes combined in the 84th minute when Sykes raced towards goal having been played through on the break, the midfielder turned in instead of shooting and floated the ball across the box finding an unmarked Adam Idah who stroked the ball home.
Ireland’s next games will be against Senegal and Luxembourg in June with the FAI announcing the two friendlies in recent days. The games will take place in advance of the World Cup Qualifiers which begin in September.
Rep. Of Ireland: Caoimhín Kelleher; Robbie Brady (Ryan Manning 66), Nathan Collins, Matthew Doherty, Jake O'Brien; Finn Azaz, Joshua Cullen, Michael Johnston (Adam Idah 66), Jason Knight (Jack Taylor 82); Evan Ferguson (James Dunne 74), Troy Parrott (Mark Sykes 66).
Subs not used: Gavin Bazunu, Mark Travers, James Abankwah, Dara O'Shea, Rocco Vata, Andrew Moran, Sinclair Armstrong.
Booked: Michael Johnston (40), Nathan Collins (90).
Bulgaria: Plamen Iliev; Valentin Antov, Anton Mihaylov Nedyalkov, Nikolay Minkov Minkov, Fabian Nürnberger (Ilian Ilianov Iliev 89), Simeon Petrov; Kiril Despodov, Ilia Iliev Gruev (Stanislav Tihomirov Shopov 89), Marin Plamenov Petkov (Radoslav Kirilov 75), Georgi Ventsislavov Milanov (Filip Krastev 75); Bozhidar Boykov Kraev.
Subs not used: Vasil Panayotov, Stanislav Ivaylov Ivanov, Hristiyan Ivaylov Petrov, Kristiyan Stoyanov, Andrian Boykov Kraev, Ivan Vasilev Dyulgerov, Dimitar Georgiev Sheytanov.
Booked: Simeon Petrov (32), Ilia Gruev (84), Vladimir Nikolov (90).
Referee: Umut Meler.
Attendance: 40,156
extratime.com Player of the Match: Finn Azaz (Rep. of Ireland)
Dundalk stay top of First Division with fightback win over Longford Town - https://t.co/94rjArr8tjhttps://t.co/ydi884olcv
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