Positive signs as Ireland retain their place in Nations League B
The Republic of Ireland’s Men’s National Team recorded back-to-back victories for the first time since 2022 as they overcame the threat of Bulgaria 4-2 on aggregate in the Nations League B/C Promotion/Relegation playoff on Sunday.
Heimir Hallgrímsson made two changes from the side that left Plovdiv with a 2-1 lead last Thursday – Everton defender Jake O’Brien taking the place of Dara O’Shea in defence, while Evan Ferguson started the game alongside Troy Parrott up front as Ryan Manning dropped to the bench.
It was the Boys in Green who started brightest and will have felt aggrieved not to go ahead after early chances fell to Mikey Johnston and Evan Ferguson. Ireland continued to mount pressure looking a constant threat from set-pieces, and twice Jake O’Brien saw his headed attempts blocked on the goal-line.
It took 28 minutes for Bulgaria to mount their first attack of the game, but one chance was all they needed – a corner sent to the edge of the Ireland box saw a shot from Georgi Milanov blocked, but the rebound fell to Valentin Antov who made no mistake in slotting home past the helpless Caoimhin Kelleher in goal.
Ireland responded well and began to open up the Bulgaria defence through good work from Finn Azaz and Robbie Brady, and they were almost rewarded when Troy Parrott rose highest but only managed find the roof of the Bulgarian net.
Half-time saw an unexpected change as referee Umut Meler was forced to withdraw due to injury, fourth official Mehmet Turkmen taking over for the second-half with the tie level at 2-2 on aggregate.
Ireland again started brightest with Mikey Johnston spurning an opportunity wide just 3 minutes in, before the lively Finn Azaz also shot wide after some great play between Ireland’s forwards. Then on 55 minutes, some excellent pressing from Troy Parrott put Evan Ferguson through on goal, but his drilled shot was comfortably parried by the Bulgarian goalkeeper.
It looked like it wasn’t going to be Ferguson’s night in Dublin as Adam Idah prepared to make an entrance. But the young Brighton striker on loan at West Ham wasn’t done yet, and showed his true class in an Ireland jersey once more. After dropping deep to receive the ball, he turned and rolled a pass to the feet of Azaz, continued his run and the Middlesbrough midfielder threaded the ball through for Ferguson to smash home past the onrushing Iliev in goal. All square on the night after 63 minutes, but Ireland with a crucial one-goal aggregate advantage.
Hallgrímsson rang in the changes and it was the substitutes who made the ultimate difference. With 6 minutes of normal time remaining, a low Azaz pass sent Mark Sykes deep into the Bulgaria half, and the Bristol City man kept his composure to hold the ball up before his cross was aided by the slightest of deflections to find Adam Idah unmarked at the back post, the Celtic striker calmly volleying home to give Ireland a 2-1 lead on the night and a 4-2 aggregate victory.
A newly-found resilience from this Irish side who twice came from behind in each leg to overcome Bulgaria and pick up consecutive victories for the first time under Hallgrímsson’s managerial reign. The win sees Ireland retain their place in UEFA Nations League B as they look ahead to World Cup 2026 qualification next October – their final opponents also confirmed as Portugal’s 5-3 aggregate win over Denmark sees them enter Group F alongside Ireland, Hungary and Armenia.
Ireland will play two summer friendlies in June against Senegal and Luxembourg, before beginning their all-important World Cup qualification campaign at home to Hungary on Saturday 6th September 2025.
Teams
Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher, Matt Doherty, Jake O’Brien, Nathan Collins (c), Robbie Brady (Ryan Manning 66’), Josh Cullen, Finn Azaz, Jason Knight, Mikey Johnston (Adam Idah 65’), Evan Ferguson (Jimmy Dunne 74’), Troy Parrott (Mark Sykes 66’).
Bulgaria: Plamen Iliev, Nikolay Minkov, Fabian Nurnberger (Ilian Iliev 89’), Anton Nedyalkov, Simeon Petrov, Ilia Gruev (Stanislav Shopov 89’), Valentin Antov, Kiril Despodov (c), Marin Petkov (Radoslav Kirilov 75’), Georgi Milanov (Filip Krastev 75’), Bozhidar Kraev (Vladimir Nikolov 60’).