Bulgaria 1-2 Ireland
Updated
Ireland won: Bulgaria 1-2 Ireland in the Nations League (Round final) on Thu, 20 Mar 2025 at Stadion Hristo Botev, Plovdiv. Bulgaria goals: Marin Petkov 6'. Ireland goals: Finn Azaz 21', Matt Doherty 42'. Expected goals: 0.32-1.85. Possession: 56-44. Player of the match: Josh Cullen (8.2).
Match report
Ireland beat Bulgaria 2-1
Ireland came from behind to beat Bulgaria 2-1 away from home at Stadion Hristo Botev on Thursday 20 March in the Nations League.
Marin Petkov put Bulgaria ahead on 6' (1-0), Finn Azaz levelled for Ireland on 21' (1-1) and Matt Doherty restored Ireland's lead on 42' (1-2).
Bulgaria had 56% of the ball, shots were 7-12 (3-3 on target) and expected goals finished 0.32-1.85. Ireland were the better side on chances, too.
Josh Cullen (Ireland) was player of the match with an 8.2 rating.
Attendance: 7,835. Referee: Benoît Bastien.
Match stats
| Bulgaria | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Ball possession | 56 | 44 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.32 | 1.85 |
| Total shots | 7 | 12 |
| Shots on target | 3 | 3 |
| Touches in opposition box | 8 | 20 |
| Big chances | 0 | 3 |
| Big chances missed | 0 | 1 |
| Accurate passes | 423 (83%) | 312 (79%) |
| Yellow cards | 4 | 4 |
| Corners | 2 | 3 |
| Total shots | 7 | 12 |
| Shots off target | 1 | 7 |
| Shots on target | 3 | 3 |
| Blocked shots | 3 | 2 |
| Hit woodwork | 0 | 0 |
| Shots inside box | 3 | 11 |
Lineups
Bulgaria (4-2-3-1): Dimitar Mitov, Anton Nedyalkov, Zhivko Atanasov, Alex Petkov, Fabian Nürnberger, Andrian Kraev, Ilia Gruev, Marin Petkov, Filip Krastev, Kiril Despodov, Lukas Petkov
Ireland (4-2-3-1): Caoimhin Kelleher, Matt Doherty, Nathan Collins, Dara O'Shea, Ryan Manning, Jason Knight, Josh Cullen, Michael Johnston, Finn Azaz, Robert Brady, Troy Parrott
Key events
- 6' · Goal · Marin Petkov (Bulgaria)
- 21' · Goal · Finn Azaz (Ireland)
- 42' · Goal · Matt Doherty (Ireland)
- 46' · Substitution · Plamen Iliev for Dimitar Mitov (Bulgaria)
- 47' · Yellow card · Finn Azaz (Ireland)
- 51' · Yellow card · Michael Johnston (Ireland)
- 59' · Yellow card · Andrian Kraev (Bulgaria)
- 61' · Yellow card · Zhivko Atanasov (Bulgaria)
- 61' · Yellow card · Jason Knight (Ireland)
- 72' · Substitution · Nikolay Minkov for Fabian Nürnberger (Bulgaria)
- 72' · Substitution · Bozhidar Kraev for Lukas Petkov (Bulgaria)
- 76' · Substitution · Jack Taylor for Finn Azaz (Ireland)
- 76' · Substitution · Evan Ferguson for Troy Parrott (Ireland)
- 76' · Substitution · Mark Sykes for Michael Johnston (Ireland)
- 79' · Substitution · Jake O'Brien for Ryan Manning (Ireland)
- 80' · Substitution · Rocco Vata for Jason Knight (Ireland)
- 81' · Yellow card · Rocco Vata (Ireland)
- 85' · Substitution · Ilian Iliev Jr. for Filip Krastev (Bulgaria)
- 85' · Yellow card · Anton Nedyalkov (Bulgaria)
- 86' · Substitution · Vladimir Nikolov for Andrian Kraev (Bulgaria)
- 90'+5 · Yellow card · Nikolay Minkov (Bulgaria)
All-time head-to-head
Questions
Who won Bulgaria vs Ireland?
Ireland won, 1-2 (Nations League) on Thu, 20 Mar 2025.
When and where is Bulgaria vs Ireland?
Thu, 20 Mar 2025, 19:45 UTC at Stadion Hristo Botev, Plovdiv, Nations League.