Nedelev leads hosts’ fightback with double

Bulgaria Northern Ireland

A BAD week for Northern Ireland got worse last night as two crisp Todor Nedelev strikes saw Bulgaria come from behind to win in Sofia.

Conor Washington’s sixth international goal had given Ian Baraclough’s side a halftime lead as they looked to have responded well to Saturday’s controversial 2-0 defeat in Switzerland which effectively ended World Cup qualifying hopes, but it all went wrong after the break.

Bulgarian boss Yasen Petrov shuffled his pack at half time and got the rewards, although Nedelev took the credit as he beat Bailey Peacock-Farrell in fine fashion twice in 11 minutes.

The aim after Saturday’s demoralising defeat in Geneva was to try to preserve seeding and look to the future – and to that end Liverpool’s 18-year-old full-back Conor Bradley was handed a first international start as one of four changes.

The early signs were all good – Bradley was one of the visitors brightest performers as they quickly pegged Bulgaria back in a dominant first-half performance.

The breakthrough came 10 minutes before the break as Washington poked home when the goalkeeper pushed Josh Magennis’ header in his direction, although Northern Ireland had to wait through a long VAR check before celebrating.

But Petrov sent on Ilian Iliev at the break, getting quick rewards as Northern Ireland struggled to deal with a revitalised Bulgaria.

The equaliser came in the 53rd minute as Iliev’s cross was deflected into the path of Nedelev, who fire a low shot into the net.

Nedelev’s second was even better as Ivaylo Chochev laid off a curling cross from Kiril Despedov and Nedelev bent a shot into the top right corner of Peacock-Farrell’s net.