The Republic of Ireland secured a crucial victory in the UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-off first leg with goals from Finn Azaz and Matt Doherty in the first half to cancel out Petkov’s early goal in the Hristo Botev Stadium. 

The win puts Ireland in a positive position for the second leg in the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, March 23, with kick-off at 7.45pm in Dublin.  

Heimir Hallgrímsson started Troy Parrott, Mikey Johnson, Finn Azaz and Ryan Manning in a much-changed side that lost to England last November. Rocco Vata made his senior international debut for the boys in green coming on in the second half to replace Jason Knight. 

The first opportunity of the contest was for Ireland as Finn Azaz’s cross from the right was played to the back post but Ryan Manning's headed effort was held firmly by Mitov. In the following phase of attack, Bulgaria took the lead in the fifth minute as Krastev’s pass to Petkov on the edge of the Irish area saw the Bulgarian forward strike a low effort that beat Kelleher at his near post. Despodov had another sight on the Irish goal with a curling effort that Kelleher did well to save. 

Azaz was to provide another opportunity for Ireland with a well-placed cross to the back post and Manning attacked the ball but his effort lacked the necessary direction. Ireland equalised in the 20th minute with a fantastic, deep delivery from Robbie Brady on the left to the back post that saw Troy Parrott play a smart cushioned pass to Azaz who headed home into an empty net to score his first goal for Ireland. 

Ireland went close to taking the lead with a quickly taken free-kick that released Parrott in the area and he played the ball across goal but Nathan Collins didn't get on the end of the cross with the goal at his mercy. Shortly after, Nedyalkov had an effort on goal for the home side that forced Caoimhín Kelleher into a diving save. 

Ireland went ahead four minutes from the hafl-time break thanks to a fantastic cross-field ball from Josh Cullen which picked out the run of Matt Doherty who was brave to beat Mitov, and head home to put Ireland ahead. 

Ireland had opportunities to add a third in the second-half with a series of set pieces and free kicks from Brady but the Bulgarian defence remained resolute. Kraev had an attempt on goal for the home side with his effort from the edge of the area but it was excellently blocked by Dara O’Shea. 

In the closing stages of the contest, Petkov got a break into the Irish area but Doherty was on hand to block the cross and Despodov had the final chance of the evening in added-on time with an effort from the edge of the area, but it went wide of the Irish goal.

Ireland will play the second leg on Sunday in the Aviva Stadium as they hope to maintain their UEFA Nations League Group B status. 

Bulgaria: Mitov (GK) (P. Iliev 46), Nedyalkov, Atanasov, Gruev, Petkov, Kraev (Nikolov 86), Despodov, Petkov, Nuernberger (Minkov 71), F. Krastev (Iliev 86), Petkov. 

Subs not used: Sheytanov (GK), Antov, Kirilov, Vl, Kraev, Shopov, S. Petrov, N, Panayotov, Il.

Republic of Ireland: Kelleher, Doherty, Manning (O'Brien 78), O'Shea, Cullen, Azaz (Taylor 75), Knight (Vata 79), Brady, Parrott (Ferguson 75), Johnston (Sykes 75), Collins ©.

Subs not used: Bazunu (GK), Travers (GK), Idah, Dunne, Moran, Armstrong, Abankwah.

Booked: Azaz (Ireland), Johnston (Ireland), Kraev (Bulgaria), Atanasov (Bulgaria), Vata (Ireland), Nedyalkov (Bulgaria), Minkov (Bulgaria)

Sent Off: None

Sky Player of the Match: Finn Azaz (Ireland)

Referee: Benoît Bastien (FRA)