Looking to follow up on Thursday night’s home win over Luxembourg, Northern Ireland almost fell behind after just three minutes.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell clawed away Georgi Kostadinov’s glancing header before a mix of him, the post, and Ciaron Brown somehow kept the ball out in the ensuing scramble.
Any opportunities created by Michael O’Neill’s men in the first period were of the half-chance variety with neither Daniel Ballard nor Conor Bradley giving Aberdeen’s Dimitar Mitov much to think about.
Bulgaria captain Despodov rattled the post with a free-kick from 25 yards on the half-hour mark but 10 minutes later would punish a Northern Irish error.
After receiving a back-pass from Brown, Peacock-Farrell tried to roll the ball to Ballard but it was picked off by Aleksandar Kolev, who showed great awareness to unselfishly roll across the six-yard box for his captain to open the scoring with the goal at his mercy.
Michael O’Neill made some changes in both formation and personnel in the second period, which saw his side control the ball more but they were still struggling to test Mitov as the Lions’ defence was looking far too comfortable for a Northern Irish liking.
The pitch at the Stadion Hristo Botev was cutting up badly which prohibited much by the way of free-flowing football but that suited the hosts as they saw out the victory without much of a scare.
They have now won two and drawn six of their eight games under Iliev while Northern Ireland will be hoping for more attacking prowess going forward.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kiril Despodov (Bulgaria)
