FT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (Agg: 4-2)
Antov slots home for Bulgaria on 30 minutes to level tie
Ferguson restores Ireland's aggregate lead after 63 minutes
Idah gives hosts second-leg advantage six minutes from time
Second half delayed as injured referee is replaced
Hosts led 2-1 from Thursday's first leg in Plovdiv
Republic of Ireland stay in League B
FT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
That is all from us tonight as the Republic of Ireland remain in League B of the Nations League after defeating Bulgaria 4-2 on aggregate.
You can read Lauren McCann's match report from the game here.
Thanks for joining us. Good evening!
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Kevin Doyle
Former Republic of Ireland footballer on RTE 2
Adam Idah didn't look like a player who was struggling with confidence.
It was a nice finish and he needs to play games and build on that.
FT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Goalscorer Adam Idah speaking on RTE 2:
"It's a great result in the two games.
"Of course I was frustrated the last game not coming on and not starting, I was obviously disappointed. But I came on and did what I needed to do and that's the best way to prove myself.
"We were patient and Mark Sykes put in a good ball and it was up to myself to be composed and thankfully I was."
FT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Republic of Ireland manager Heimier Hallgrimsson speaking on RTE 2:
On conceding: "It seems to be some sort of a trend that we concede a goal from the first attack and they got it. Obviously disappointing but good that we came back."
On the substitutes: There are more players now understanding our principles of play so hopefully we can grow from now on.
"We have shown good signs of growth this camp. There has been a lot of good energy and togetherness in the squad and I hope that is a good sign for the World Cup qualifiers."
FT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Richie Sadlier
Former Republic of Ireland striker on RTE Sport
I'm delighted Evan Ferguson got that goal. The win is the main thing and still being in League B is the main thing.
However the significance of him scoring a goal, particularly a very impressive goal, is massive because we are all willing him on to what we hope he can be.
FT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Kevin Doyle
Former Republic of Ireland footballer on RTE 2
Troy Parrott was brilliant. Some real positives from the last two games to show that he can lead that line and have people around him
I thought him and Finn Azaz stood out for me.
FT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Player of the Match Troy Parrott speaking on RTE Two:
"I think the Bulgaria goal this time was a bit on us, but to turn it around and come back and win is a nice feeling.
"I don't think it's a secret, I have said before that playing [as a number nine] is my favourite position and that's where I feel like I'm the strongest.
"We have a lot of quality in this team. You saw with Evan Ferguson and his goal and Adam Idah came on and scored his goal.
"I would have liked to score a goal for myself also, but the most important thing is that we won the game."
FT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Elsewhere, the Portugal vs Denmark Nations League quarter-final tie has gone to extra-time.
The Republic of Ireland will play the winners in the World Cup qualifiers.
FT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Stay with us though as we'll be bringing you reaction from the Republic of Ireland camp.
FT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
One more! This is only the second home game in the Republic of Ireland's last 12 in the Nations League that both teams have scored.
I'll put my stat book away now, I promise.
Image source, Getty ImagesAdam Idah celebrates scoring the second-leg winner against Bulgaria
FT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Another stat for you, the result means that the Republic of Ireland remain unbeaten by Bulgaria at home.
FT: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
This is the first time that the Republic of Ireland have won back-to-back games at home since September 2022.
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Job done for the Republic of Ireland as they remain in League B.
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
We're into the final minute of additional time.
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
A corner bounces in the box and finds Radoslav Kirilov but the substitute, who is leaning back, sends his strike off target.
Was that the final chance for the away side?
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Vladimir Nikolov and Nathan Collins are cautioned for handbags as they both prepare for a Republic of Ireland corner.
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
We've played the 90 and are into six minutes of additional time.
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
llian lliev and Stanislav Shopov are brought on for llia Gruev and Fabian Nuernberger.
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Vladimir Kikolov is the next to need treatment.
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (agg 4-2)
Ray Houghton
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder on RTE
The substitutes have certainly made an impact. They have came on with a real desire and determination, none more than Sykes with that run.
Ferguson scored his fifth international goal on his 20th cap to help Republic of Ireland to an aggregate win
The Republic of Ireland retained their place in Nations League B after a 2-1 win against Bulgaria in the play-off second leg at the Aviva Stadium earned them a 4-2 aggregate success.
Leading 2-1 from the first leg in Plovdiv, the Republic fell behind to Valentin Antov's goal from Bulgaria's first shot on target.
Yet, just as they did on Thursday, the hosts fought back as Evan Ferguson levelled with an emphatic finish in the 63rd minute, before substitute Adam Idah netted six minutes from time with a close-range volley.
The Republic have now won back-to-back games for the first time since March 2023 and the morale boosting aggregate victory will give Heimir Hallgrimsson's side confidence before the World Cup qualifiers in September.
Bulgaria scored with their first shot on target
Hallgrimsson made two changes from the comeback victory on Thursday as Ferguson and Jake O'Brien came in for Ryan Manning and Dara O'Shea.
Everton defender O'Brien had the first chance of the game on three minutes after a fast-paced start from the hosts.
He rose highest to meet Robbie Brady's corner and his powerful header was pushed away by Plamen lliev.
The Republic threatened again on 23 minutes when Troy Parrott hit the post from close range after connecting with Brady's low delivery.
As was the case in the first leg, Bulgaria took the lead against the run of play on 30 minutes through a scrappy goal.
From their first corner of the game, Kiril Despodov found Georgi Milanov on the edge of the box and his first-time shot was only half cleared, landing at the feet of Antov who steered home.
Parrott almost levelled but his glancing header from another well-timed Brady cross floated just over the crossbar.
In an almost carbon copy of his first attempt, O'Brien again met a Brady corner, but his weak header was cleared off the line by Simeon Petrov.
Ferguson put his club woes behind him to produce a confident finish in equalising for his country
The start of the second half was delayed by eight minutes following an injury to referee Umut Meler with fourth official Mehmet Turkmen taking over.
Mikey Johnston had the first chance after the restart, shooting well wide from the right-hand side of the box after nice build-up play from the hosts.
The hosts squandered a great opportunity on 55 minutes as Parrott latched on to a loose pass from Simeon Petrov and fed Ferguson, whose low strike from range was tipped away by lliev.
Ferguson made amends for the miss by levelling the game and putting the Republic ahead on aggregate.
He started the move, driving forward after picking the ball up near the centre circle and playing a one-two with Finn Azaz before smashing the ball into the roof of the net.
That was his fifth goal for his country, with the relief of scoring palpable in his celebration after a difficult spell at club level while on loan at West Ham.
Idah then scored the late winner as the Celtic striker confidently tucked home on the half-volley from fellow substitute Mark Sykes' lofted cross to the back post.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 14 |
| |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| |
| 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 7 |
| |
| 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 16 | -7 | 4 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 13 |
| |
| 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 13 |
| |
| 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | -3 | 4 |
| |
| 4 | Israel | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 4 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 14 |
| |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| |
| 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 6 |
| |
| 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 17 | -13 | 2 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 16 |
| |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
| |
| 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 6 |
| |
| 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 14 | -8 | 2 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 15 | 16 |
| |
| 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 13 |
| |
| 3 | Estonia | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 4 |
|
| 4 | Azerbaijan | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 17 | -14 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 18 |
| |
| 2 | Kosovo | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 12 |
|
| 3 | Cyprus | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 15 | -11 | 6 |
|
| 4 | Lithuania | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 11 |
| |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 9 |
|
| 3 | Belarus | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 7 |
|
| 4 | Luxembourg | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 3 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 16 |
| |
| 2 | Armenia | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 7 |
|
| 3 | Faroe Islands | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 6 |
|
| 4 | Latvia | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 4 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Marino | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
|
| 2 | Gibraltar | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
|
| 3 | Liechtenstein | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 2 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moldova | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
|
| 2 | Malta | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
|
| 3 | Andorra | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 11 |
| |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| |
| 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| |
| 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 7 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 15 |
| |
| 2 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 15 |
| |
| 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 12 | -9 | 6 |
| |
| 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 13 | -11 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 13 |
| |
| 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 11 |
| |
| 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 8 |
| |
| 4 | Kazakhstan | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 15 | -15 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 12 |
| |
| 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 11 |
| |
| 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 7 |
| |
| 4 | Montenegro | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 3 |
|
Manager: Heimir HallgrÃmsson
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Ilian Iliev
Formation: 5 - 4 - 1
Manager: Heimir HallgrÃmsson
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Ilian Iliev
Formation: 5 - 4 - 1
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Republic of Ireland have never lost a home match against Bulgaria in five previous encounters (W2 D3), with the most recent game ending goalless in November 2020.
Bulgaria have failed to win any of their last six games against Republic of Ireland (D4 L2), netting just four goals in that time and never more than one in the same match.
Republic of Ireland won their last home game, beating Finland 1-0 in November. Eire are looking to win consecutive home games for the first time since September 2022.
Bulgaria won 1-0 in their last away UEFA Nations League game against Luxembourg in November. They haven’t won consecutive competitive away internationals since victories against Luxembourg in October 2006 and Belarus in June 2007 in UEFA European Championship qualifiers.
Seven of Republic of Ireland’s last 10 international goals have come via headers, including each of their last three in succession, and both in the first leg of this UEFA Nations League tie in Bulgaria on Thursday.
Bulgaria have failed to score in 58% of their away UEFA Nations League games (7/12), scoring just six goals in total across their 12 competition matches on their travels.
If he features in this match, Matt Doherty will make his 50th appearance for Republic of Ireland, becoming the first player to reach that milestone for his nation since Shane Duffy vs Portugal in November 2021.
19-year-old Rocco Vata made his first appearance for Republic of Ireland last time out against Bulgaria, and could become just the third teenager to score for them in the 21st Century, following Evan Ferguson (three goals in 2023) and Troy Parrott (two goals in 2021).
