In a crucial League C, Group C3 clash in the UEFA Nations League, Bulgaria hosted Northern Ireland at the Hristo Botev Stadium, Plovdiv, on September 8, 2024. Both teams were fighting for valuable points to avoid relegation, making the match a tense and hard-fought contest. Bulgaria managed to secure a 1-0 victory, thanks to a first-half goal from their star forward, Kiril Despodov.
Head to Head: Historically, Bulgaria had the upper hand in this fixture, winning 6 out of the 10 previous encounters. Northern Ireland, on the other hand, managed just 2 victories, with 2 matches ending in draws. Coming into this game, both teams were desperate for a win to stay in contention in the group, adding further pressure to an already charged atmosphere.
Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland Lineups
Here is the actual lineups of Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland (Sep 8, 2024)
Bulgaria (Coach: Ilian Iliev)
- GK: Mitov
- DF: Atanasov, Gruev, Petkov, Nuernberger
- MF: Kostadinov, Kirilov, M. Minchev, V. Popov
- FW: Kolev, Despodov (C)
Substitutes:
- S. Ivanov for Despodov (77′)
- S. Petrov for Kostadinov (77′)
- Ahmedov for Kolev (62′)
- Zdravko Dimitrov for Kirilov (71′)
- Panayotov for M. Minchev (72′)
Northern Ireland (Coach: Michael O’Neill)
- GK: Peacock-Farrell
- DF: Bradley, Lewis, Ballard, Hume (C)
- MF: S. Charles, Saville, Price, McNair
- FW: D. Charles, Brown
Substitutes:
- Lavery for D. Charles (59′)
- Marshall for McNair (73′)
- Smyth for Saville (73′)
- McCann for Price (82′)
- McCausland for Hume (82′)
Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland First Half
The game started at a high tempo, with both teams battling for control in midfield. Bulgaria dominated early possession, but Northern Ireland’s defense stood firm, thwarting several attacking moves. In the 30th minute, Kiril Despodov came close to scoring when his powerful shot struck the woodwork, sending a warning to Northern Ireland.
The breakthrough finally came in the 40th minute. Aleksandar Kolev delivered a precise cross from the right wing, which found Despodov in the box. The forward made no mistake and headed the ball into the back of the net, giving Bulgaria a 1-0 lead. Northern Ireland tried to respond quickly but failed to create clear-cut chances. The half ended with Bulgaria ahead.
Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland Second Half
Northern Ireland came out with more urgency in the second half, making attacking substitutions early on. Shayne Lavery was introduced to add firepower, while Callum Marshall and Paul Smyth followed to inject pace into the Northern Irish attack.
Despite the changes, Bulgaria’s defense remained resolute. Northern Ireland had their best chance in the 87th minute when Lavery missed a close-range effort, and just minutes later, Ballard had a shot that went wide. Bulgarian goalkeeper Mitov was called into action multiple times, pulling off crucial saves to maintain his side’s slim lead.
As the game approached its conclusion, Northern Ireland threw everything forward. In the 90th minute, Bulgarian defender Fabian Nuernberger received a yellow card for a tactical foul, and Aleksandar Kolev was also cautioned for time-wasting in stoppage time. Despite Northern Ireland’s best efforts, they were unable to find the equalizer.
Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland Stats
Here is the Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland stats today (Sep 8, 2024)
- Possession: Bulgaria 52% – 48% Northern Ireland
- Shots: Bulgaria 10 – 11 Northern Ireland
- Shots on Target: Bulgaria 4 – 5 Northern Ireland
- Corners: Bulgaria 3 – 7 Northern Ireland
- Fouls: Bulgaria 19 – 17 Northern Ireland
- Yellow Cards: Bulgaria 4, Northern Ireland 3
Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland Timeline
- 4’: Early save from Mitov after Price’s effort on goal.
- 29’: McNair (Northern Ireland) booked for a foul on Kirilov.
- 30’: Despodov (Bulgaria) hits the woodwork.
- 40’ GOAL: Kiril Despodov scores with a header from Kolev’s cross (1-0).
- 59’: Dion Charles (Northern Ireland) replaced by Shayne Lavery.
- 78’: Ahmed Ahmedov (Bulgaria) booked for a foul on Ballard.
- 87’: Lavery (Northern Ireland) misses a close-range shot.
- 90’+3’: Kolev (Bulgaria) booked for time-wasting.
Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland Final Score:
- Bulgaria 1-0 Northern Ireland
- Goal: Despodov (40’)
Impact on the Points Table
Bulgaria’s victory secured three vital points, pushing them up the League C Group C3 standings, while Northern Ireland’s defeat kept them languishing near the bottom. Bulgaria’s win ensured their survival in the group, whereas Northern Ireland would face an uphill battle to avoid relegation.
Man of the Match
Kiril Despodov was the standout performer for Bulgaria, not only scoring the decisive goal but also creating several chances throughout the game. His leadership and work rate earned him the well-deserved Man of the Match award.
Bulgaria’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Northern Ireland was a testament to their defensive resilience and clinical finishing. While Northern Ireland battled bravely and had opportunities to equalize, they lacked the cutting edge needed in front of goal. With this result, Bulgaria moves closer to their goal of staying in League C, while Northern Ireland will need to regroup and focus on their upcoming fixtures to avoid relegation.
