Skip to content
Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Bulgaria vs Netherlands. FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group A.

Vasil Levski National StadiumAttendance10,900.

Bulgaria 2

  • S Delev (5th minute, 20th minute)

Netherlands 0

    Available to watch on the red button

    Bulgaria 2-0 Netherlands: Spas Delev's double earns Ivaylo Petev's side shock win over Dutch.

    Bulgaria's forward Spas Delev celebrates after scoring a goal during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between Bulgaria and Netherland a
    Image: Bulgaria forward Spas Delev scored twice in his side's 2-0 win over Netherlands

    Bulgaria stayed on course to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998 after Spas Delev gave them a 2-0 win over toothless Netherlands in a Group A Qualifier on Saturday with his first international goals.

    After the win at the Vasil Levski stadium, Petar Hubchevs men climbed to third in the group standings with nine points from five matches, one point behind Sweden and four behind leaders France. Netherlands are fourth on seven.

    The lively Delev struck twice in quick succession in the first 20 minutes, pouncing on sloppy defending by 17-year-old Matthijs de Ligt, who became the youngest Netherlands player since 1931.

    De Ligt, who has started in just two league games for his club Ajax Amsterdam, could not have made a worse international debut as he misjudged Simeon Slavchev's long pass, allowing Delev to poke the ball beyond keeper Jeroen Zoet after five minutes.

    Netherland's forward Bas Dost reacts after losing  the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between Bulgaria and Netherland in Sofia on March 2
    Image: Bas Dost reacts to his side's defeat

    Delev then punished yet more hesitant defending by De Ligt with a thunderous shot midway through the first half. He gave Zoet no chance after De Ligts clearance found the head of Georgi Kostadinov, who turned provider.

    Dutch striker Bas Dost almost reduced the deficit two minutes before the break but fired his close-range effort wide.

    The visitors enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the second half as Wesley Sneijder and Wesley Hoedt - another debutant - came on as substitutes but they failed to convert it into goals, though Davy Claasen came close to scoring.

    Also See:

    Netherland's forward Arjen Robben reacts after losing  the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between Bulgaria and Netherland in Sofia on Mar
    Image: Arjen Robben is left disappointed after defeat to Bulgaria

    Bulgaria, missing injured keeper Vladislav Stoyanov and midfielders Svetoslv Dyakov and Georgi Milanov, produced another disciplined performance under Hubchev, leaving the Dutch to continue their search for a first win on Bulgarian soil.

    Bulgaria visit Belarus on June 9 in their next game in the group while Netherlands host bottom team Luxembourg.

    Around Sky