**UEFA Nations League relegation/play-off second leg:** Republic of Ireland 2 Bulgaria 1 (Republic win 4-2 on aggregate)
From Brendan Crossan at Aviva Stadium
SECOND half goals from strikers Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah saw the Republic of Ireland come from behind for a second time in three days to secure their Uefa Nations League B status at the expense of Bulgaria in Dublin last night.
In front of 40,156 supporters, the Irish played with their hearts and their heads to deal with falling behind to a first-half Valentin Antov goal.
Ferguson answered the call to ease Irish nerves and substitute Idah put the game beyond the visitors with a tidy finish.
There was a time when this Irish team would have collapsed under the weight of conceding a goal. It happened in the first leg in Bulgaria on Thursday night, but they came back to win.
And they repeated the dose last night to ease to a 4-2 aggregate win over a decidedly poor opponent.
Still, Ireland will take the wins when they come.
Heimir Hallgrimsson made just two changes to the side that came away from Plovdiv last Thursday night with a 2-1 away win.
Playing regularly for Everton, Jake O’Brien came into the heart of the Irish defence in place of Dara O’Shea to win his fifth senior international cap.
Ryan Manning also dropped to the bench to make way for West Ham’s on-loan striker Evan Ferguson who partnered the in-form Troy Parrott up front.
Hallgrimsson opted for a slightly tweaked 4-4-2 formation with not the same natural width of Plovdiv with the right-footed Finn Azaz playing on the left side of midfield.
In the opening exchanges Ireland played like a team that were carrying a one-goal advantage into this second leg.
Their passing was crisp and progressive with Jason Knight and Azaz lively from the first whistle and the home side’s high press was always urgent.
But it was the old faithful – a set piece – that almost saw the home side forge ahead on the night.
Robbie Brady’s back post corner picked out the towering O’Brien but the Everton defender’s header was scrambled away by Bulgarian ‘keeper Plamen Iliev and Nathan Collins couldn’t wrap his left foot around the rebound.
The visitors didn’t seem up for the fight either – but while Mikey Johnston jinked down the right flank and Azaz looked dangerous on the other side, the Republic didn’t threaten Bulgaria’s goal enough.
Parrott’s flicked effort clipped off the post from Brady’s low centre before a late flag ruled the move out.
Brady’s role in Hallgrimsson’s team is pivotal to the Irish attack. Licence to play high in a back four and getting chalk on his boots, the 33-year-old swung in some dangerous crosses and was overseeing all the free-kicks.
The visitors didn’t seem bothered about a Nations League promotion to League B and never mounted a serious attack – but when they did, they scored totally against the run of play.
In the 29th minute, Valetin Antov was in the right place to scuff the loose ball past a wrong-footed Caoimhin Kelleher in Ireland’s goal from eight yards after Georgi Milanov’s speculative volley from 25 yards squirmed out to his team-mate to level up this two-legged affair.
It was one of those concessions nobody really could be blamed for. The Bulgarians were as stunned as the home supporters.
The Irish reacted in a positive manner to Bulgaria’s fortuitous goal. A minute after falling behind, Parrott was unlucky with a glancing header that breezed over the Bulgarian crossbar – with Brady the supplier again.
O’Brien went close again with another header from a Brady corner which was cleared off the line just before half-time.
Injury to the referee meant a 10-minute delay to the restart with the fourth official, Mehmet Turkmen, stepping into the breach.
Adam Idah netted the winner (Brian Lawless/PA)
The second half was a test of character to observe how far this Irish team had travelled over the last few seasons.
And how would Hallgrimsson react? When would he look to his bench for a game-changer? He didn’t. He rolled the dice with those on the pitch.
And once Ferguson grabbed the equaliser in the 63rd minute to put the home side ahead over the two legs, he acted promptly by offering fresh legs in three positions.
Up until Ferguson’s 63rd minute goal, the home side looked decidedly anxious.
Nathan Collins didn’t help this feeling by giving easy possession away and Johnston fired wide when he should have at least hit the target.
Chances continued to present themselves, with Azaz missing the target with a 53rd minute volley.
Ferguson came alive when Parrott did the spade work by winning possession off the Bulgarian defence.
The West Ham man raced clear, opting to shoot from distance but at least forced a save out of Illiev.
Still, Bulgaria were encouraged a couple of times, putting Cullen under pressure and getting some joy.
The night was crying out for something, somebody to step up and write the headlines with a moment of inspiration.
Just when Ferguson’s star was threatening to fizzle out, the muscle memory of scoring goals kicked in.
A lovely wall pass with Azaz and the big striker thumped the ball into the roof of the net to level the tie on the night and push Ireland 3-2 ahead on aggregate.
He made finishing look effortless. Hallgrimsson emptied his bench in a thoughtful way.
Adam Idah, Mark Sykes, Ryan Manning, Jimmy Dunne and Jack Taylor were introduced to plug holes around the field and offer energy going down the home straight.
With six minutes remaining Sykes picked out Idah at the back post and it was game, set and match for the Irish.
The Green Army have a couple of summer friendlies – against Senegal (h) and Luxembourg (a)- before turning their attention to their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign in the Autumn. That’s when the real tests begin...
**Ireland player ratings**
**Caoimhin Kelleher:** Liverpool’s back-up keeper has very much made the number one jersey his own this season. A virtual spectator in the first half and could do nothing about Bulgaria’s opener. **6**
**Matt Doherty:** Winning a half century of caps, the Dubliner offered himself as an extra body in attack at times. Steady performance before Jimmy Dunne replaced him. **6**
**Robbie Brady:** Enjoying an international encore under Hallgrimsson, the left-sided veteran was dangerous from set pieces and delivered some excellent crosses from open play before fresh legs were offered in the final quarter. **6**
**Jake O’Brien:** Got the nod to win only his fifth cap, the Cork man was dangerous from set-plays, forcing two goal-line clearances in the first half. Strong display. **7**
**Nathan Collins:** The Ireland captain was nervy in possession in the first leg and was at times again but did defend well in the last quarter. **6**
**Josh Cullen:** Just like that the 26-year-old Burnley midfielder is now one of the most experienced Irish internationals. Shielded the Irish back-line to good effect. **6**
**Jason Knight:** The Bristol City man was busy and showed personality by getting on the ball. Picked up a first-half yellow card. Establishing a good understanding with Cullen. **7**
**Finn Azaz:** Man-of-the-match in the first leg, the Middlesbrough playmaker threatened on a couple of occasions down the left side. Had a hand in Ferguson’s goal. **6**
**Troy Parrott:** Lively and unlucky with a couple of first half efforts. Looks like a striker who has been scoring goals for his club. Unlucky with a couple of efforts. Ran himself into the ground before being replaced in the 65th minute. **7.5**
**Evan Ferguson:** Not getting many minutes at West Ham but was thrown in from the start for this second leg. His lack of game-time showed until he was faced with a chance on goal. Forced a save out of Illiev before crashing the ball home to register his fifth senior international goal in 20 appearances. **7**
**Mikey Johnston:** Winning his 15th cap, the WBA winger had a couple of good moments in the opening half, was also wasteful a couple of times. Replaced by Adam Idah in the 65 minute. **5**
**Subs:**
**Adam Idah:** Fine touch finish to wrap up the tie. **6**
**Ryan Manning:** Solid at left back. **6**
**Mark Sykes:** Tactically smart down Ireland’s right side and claimed an assist for Idah’s goal. **7**
**Jimmy Dunne:** Offered freshness at right back. **6**
**Jack Taylor:** Not on long enough to be rated.