Match report

Northern Ireland Stuns Bulgaria 5-0 in UEFA Nations League

Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
5–0
FT
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Oct 15, 2024

Northern Ireland delivered a stunning 5-0 victory over Bulgaria in their UEFA Nations League match. Ian Price scored a brace and a goal was added from an own goal by Bulgaria's Dimitar Mitov. Jonny Magennis also added a goal late in the match, sealing a comprehensive win for Northern Ireland.

Key Facts

  • • Ian Price scored two goals for Northern Ireland
  • • Bulgaria's Dimitar Mitov scored an own goal
  • • Jonny Magennis secured the final goal of the match
  • • Ian Price was cautioned with a yellow card at 25 minutes
  • • Northern Ireland's Edging Toal received a yellow card at 41 minutes
  • • Bulgaria's Kostadin Despodov and Filip Krastev both received yellow cards

Lineups

Northern Ireland

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 12 P. Charles (G)
  • 5 T. Hume (D)
  • 17 P. McNair (D)
  • 4 E. Toal (D)
  • 2 C. Bradley (M)
  • 16 A. McCann (M)
  • 19 S. Charles (M)
  • 20 B. Spencer (M)
  • 14 I. Price (F)
  • 8 C. Marshall (F)
  • 10 D. Charles (F)

Substitutes

  • 22 C. Brown
  • 9 J. Reid
  • 11 P. Smyth
  • 21 J. Magennis
  • 13 B. Lyons
  • 15 J. Thompson
  • 7 L. Bonis
  • 6 G. Saville
  • 1 L. Southwood
  • 23 C. Pym
  • 18 C. Boyd-Munce
  • 3 J. Lewis

Bulgaria

Formation: 4-3-3

Starting XI

  • 1 D. Mitov (G)
  • 2 V. Popov
  • 3 Z. Atanasov (D)
  • 15 S. Petrov (D)
  • 5 H. Petrov (D)
  • 14 F. Krastev (M)
  • 7 G. Kostadinov (M)
  • 20 S. Yusein (M)
  • 11 K. Despodov (F)
  • 17 M. Minchev (F)
  • 8 R. Kirilov (F)

Substitutes

  • 6 V. Antov
  • 9 Z. Dimitrov
  • 18 I. Chochev
  • 22 I. Iliev
  • 10 G. Minchev
  • 12 S. Ivanov
  • 21 S. Vutsov
  • 16 V. Panayotov
  • 4 I. Minchev
  • 23 I. Dyulgerov
  • 13 A. Lyaskov
  • 19 I. Turitsov

Timeline

  1. Northern Ireland
    15' Northern Ireland Goal · Normal Goal
    I. Price · Assist: D. Charles
  2. Northern Ireland
    25' Northern Ireland Card · Yellow Card
    I. Price

    Foul

  3. Northern Ireland
    29' Northern Ireland Goal · Normal Goal
    I. Price · Assist: Brodie Spencer
  4. Bulgaria
    30' Bulgaria Card · Yellow Card
    K. Despodov

    Argument

  5. Northern Ireland
    32' Northern Ireland Goal · Own Goal
    Dimitar Mitov
  6. Bulgaria
    38' Bulgaria Card · Yellow Card
    F. Krastev

    Argument

  7. Northern Ireland
    41' Northern Ireland Card · Yellow Card
    E. Toal

    Foul

  8. Northern Ireland
    45' Northern Ireland subst · Substitution 1
    Off: E. Toal · On: Ciaron Brown
  9. Bulgaria
    46' Bulgaria subst · Substitution 1
    Off: S. Yusein · On: V. Antov
  10. Bulgaria
    46' Bulgaria subst · Substitution 2
    Off: R. Kirilov · On: Z. Dimitrov
  11. Northern Ireland
    69' Northern Ireland Var · Goal cancelled
    D. Charles
  12. Northern Ireland
    74' Northern Ireland subst · Substitution 2
    Off: D. Charles · On: J. Reid
  13. Northern Ireland
    74' Northern Ireland subst · Substitution 3
    Off: C. Marshall · On: P. Smyth
  14. Bulgaria
    79' Bulgaria subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Zhivko Atanasov · On: I. Chochev
  15. Northern Ireland
    81' Northern Ireland Goal · Normal Goal
    I. Price · Assist: S. Charles
  16. Bulgaria
    85' Bulgaria subst · Substitution 4
    Off: K. Despodov · On: I. Iliev
  17. Bulgaria
    85' Bulgaria subst · Substitution 5
    Off: M. Minchev · On: G. Minchev
  18. Northern Ireland
    89' Northern Ireland Goal · Normal Goal
    J. Magennis · Assist: P. Smyth

Match Stats

Stat Northern Ireland Bulgaria
Fouls 15 12
Pass Accuracy 77% 80%
Offsides 2 2
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 12 5
Corners 7 2
Total Passes 322 456
Yellow Cards 2 2
Blocked Shots 2 1
Shots on Target 4 1
xG — —
Shots off Target 6 3
Possession 43% 57%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 249 367
Shots Inside Box 9 4
Saves 1 0
Shots Outside Box 3 1

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Ian Price's early goal at 15 minutes set the tone for Northern Ireland's dominance
  • ▸ The own goal by Dimitar Mitov at 32 minutes further demoralized Bulgaria and solidified Northern Ireland's lead