Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria
Updated
Ireland won: Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria in the Nations League (Round final) on Sun, 23 Mar 2025 at Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Ireland goals: Evan Ferguson 63', Adam Idah 84'. Bulgaria goals: Valentin Antov 30'. Expected goals: 1.82-0.19. Possession: 50-50. Player of the match: Robert Brady (8).
Match report
Ireland beat Bulgaria 2-1
Ireland came from behind to beat Bulgaria 2-1 at Aviva Stadium on Sunday 23 March in the Nations League.
Valentin Antov put Bulgaria ahead on 30' (0-1), Evan Ferguson levelled for Ireland on 63' (1-1) and Adam Idah restored Ireland's lead on 84' (2-1).
Ireland had 50% of the ball, shots were 14-7 (5-2 on target) and expected goals finished 1.82-0.19. Ireland were the better side on chances, too.
Robert Brady (Ireland) was player of the match with an 8 rating.
Attendance: 40,156. Referee: Halil Umut Meler.
Match stats
| Ireland | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Ball possession | 50 | 50 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.82 | 0.19 |
| Total shots | 14 | 7 |
| Shots on target | 5 | 2 |
| Touches in opposition box | 26 | 11 |
| Big chances | 3 | 0 |
| Big chances missed | 1 | 0 |
| Accurate passes | 421 (86%) | 412 (85%) |
| Yellow cards | 3 | 3 |
| Corners | 5 | 5 |
| Total shots | 14 | 7 |
| Shots off target | 5 | 3 |
| Shots on target | 5 | 2 |
| Blocked shots | 4 | 2 |
| Hit woodwork | 0 | 0 |
| Shots inside box | 11 | 4 |
Lineups
Ireland (4-4-2): Caoimhin Kelleher, Matt Doherty, Nathan Collins, Jake O'Brien, Robert Brady, Michael Johnston, Finn Azaz, Josh Cullen, Jason Knight, Evan Ferguson, Troy Parrott
Bulgaria (5-4-1): Plamen Iliev, Valentin Antov, Simeon Petrov, Anton Nedyalkov, Nikolay Minkov, Fabian Nürnberger, Marin Petkov, Georgi Milanov, Ilia Gruev, Kiril Despodov, Bozhidar Kraev
Key events
- 30' · Goal · Valentin Antov (Bulgaria)
- 32' · Yellow card · Simeon Petrov (Bulgaria)
- 40' · Yellow card · Michael Johnston (Ireland)
- 45' · Yellow card · Jason Knight (Ireland)
- 60' · Substitution · Vladimir Nikolov for Bozhidar Kraev (Bulgaria)
- 63' · Goal · Evan Ferguson (Ireland)
- 66' · Substitution · Ryan Manning for Robert Brady (Ireland)
- 66' · Substitution · Mark Sykes for Troy Parrott (Ireland)
- 66' · Substitution · Adam Idah for Michael Johnston (Ireland)
- 74' · Substitution · Jimmy Dunne for Evan Ferguson (Ireland)
- 75' · Substitution · Filip Krastev for Georgi Milanov (Bulgaria)
- 75' · Substitution · Radoslav Kirilov for Marin Petkov (Bulgaria)
- 82' · Substitution · Jack Taylor for Jason Knight (Ireland)
- 84' · Yellow card · Ilia Gruev (Bulgaria)
- 84' · Goal · Adam Idah (Ireland)
- 89' · Substitution · Ilian Iliev Jr. for Fabian Nürnberger (Bulgaria)
- 89' · Substitution · Stanislav Shopov for Ilia Gruev (Bulgaria)
- 90'+2 · Yellow card · Nathan Collins (Ireland)
- 90'+3 · Yellow card · Vladimir Nikolov (Bulgaria)
All-time head-to-head
Questions
Who won Ireland vs Bulgaria?
Ireland won, 2-1 (Nations League) on Sun, 23 Mar 2025.
When and where is Ireland vs Bulgaria?
Sun, 23 Mar 2025, 19:45 UTC at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Nations League.