Stylish Belgium end Bulgaria bid

Belgium are through to their first UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals since 2002 after blowing Bulgaria away in Sofia to win this play-off second leg 4-1 and seal a 5-2 aggregate success.

Two for Desmet
Expectations were high at the Balgarska Armia Stadium after Bulgaria drew 1-1 Roeselare in Saturday, only for the home side to find themselves 2-0 down at half-time thanks to goals from Stijo Desmet (20) and Maarten Martens (36). Tsvetan Genkov (57) reduced arrears before Bulgarian duo Plamen Nikolov and Ivo Ivanov were sent off either side of Desmet's second goal (80). Jonathan Legear completed the scoring in the 89th minute as the Red Devils made amends for missing out at this stage last season.

Mihaylov penalty
Following a minute's silence in honour of Stoyan Ormandzhiev, the match began at a slow pace and in the first real action of note Desmet beat Nikolay Mihaylov with a well-placed shot from Sebastien Pocognoli's left-wing cross. Genkov and Ivelin Popov went close for the home side before Petar Zanev conceded a penalty when handling in the area. Mihaylov saved Martens' initial spot-kick, but the Belgian made no mistake after the referee ordered a retake.

Lobbed goal
Genkov gave Bulgaria a glimmer of hope with a lobbed goal as the hour approached but the two red cards put paid to their chances of an upset. Desmet's second goal came on the counterattack, while Legear's fourth goal for his country put the seal on an impressive away showing and means Belgium will be among the eight teams in the hat for the 2007 finals to be played next door in the Netherlands.