Ireland Disappointed With Narrow 2-1 Victory Over Bulgaria In Nations League Play-Off

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The Republic of Ireland's narrow 2-1 victory over Bulgaria in the Nations League play-off left Matt Doherty feeling it was a missed chance. Despite trailing early to Marin Petkov's goal, Ireland turned the match around by half-time. Finn Azaz equalised with his first international goal, and Doherty scored just before the break. However, no shots on target followed in the second half.

Reflecting on the match, Doherty expressed mixed feelings about the outcome. "I think we believed already we could come here and win; belief wasn't a problem," he told RTE. He acknowledged that while they achieved a win, there was still significant work ahead for the return leg in Dublin.

Doherty noted that the team was disappointed not to extend their lead further. "We're a little bit disappointed it finished 2-1; we were wanting to push and put the game really to bed," he said. The narrow scoreline left Bulgaria with hope, especially towards the end of the match.

Heimir Hallgrimsson, Ireland's coach, shared similar sentiments regarding areas for improvement. "We can do a little bit better," he stated, emphasising that it's only halfway through their two-legged tie. He looked forward to playing at home in Dublin.

Hallgrimsson identified defensive passivity as an issue in the second half. "We got too passive in the second half, especially defensively after we pressed them well in the first half," he explained. He stressed that maintaining aggression while defending is crucial even when leading.

The upcoming match in Dublin presents an opportunity for Ireland to solidify their position. Both Doherty and Hallgrimsson are keenly aware of what needs addressing before then. They aim to build on their first-leg performance and secure advancement in front of their home crowd.