Bulgaria hold on for Luxembourg victory

Bulgaria registered their first Group 10 victory after an entertaining home win against Luxembourg.

First-half goals by Momchil Tsvetanov and Tomi Kostadinov either side of Laurent Jans's equaliser put the hosts in charge before the interval, while Georgi Milanov extended the lead early in the second half. Though Massimo Martino struck in added-time his goal came too late to give Mihail Madanski's side excessive cause for concern, although goalkeeper Plamen Iliev was piqued enough to get sent off for kicking out in anger at an opponent.

In an open match, the home side deservedly took the lead midway thtough the first half when Tsvetanov latched on to Drenovichki's pass before scoring with an accurate shot from 15 metres. Bulgaria continued to dominate the match but conceded an equaliser on 38 minutes when Iliev fumbled the ball into the path of Jans, who had the simplest of tasks to level terms.

It only took a minute for the home side to reclaim the lead, however, Kostadinov making it 2-1 from the penalty spot. Bulgaria continued to push on after the break and were soon rewarded with their third goal, after Milanov Ilia picked out an unmarked Milanov who connected with his inviting cross from close range.

As Luxembourg threw caution to the wind late on, Martino briefly set Bulgarian hearts aflutter when he was quickest to a loose ball which he fired past Iliev. And though the home goalkeeper then lost his head, Bulgaria, who lie fourth in the section, ensured they did not lose the game.