Kilbane own goal gives Bulgaria lifeline

Republic of Ireland 1 Bulgaria 0

Kevin Kilbane’s own goal handed Bulgaria a World Cup lifeline as the Republic of Ireland’s charge towards South Africa suffered its first real setback.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s men looked to be heading for a fourth victory in five qualifiers after Richard Dunne headed them in front with just 40 seconds gone.

But after Bulgaria keeper Dimitar Ivankov had denied both Robbie Keane and Aiden McGeady, Kilbane turned Stiliyan Petrov’s cross into his own net to give the visitors a point.

Hunt was in the thick of the action within seconds, drawing a foul from Iliyan Stoyanov.

And the Reading midfielder was to have an even bigger impact from the free-kick when his cross was flicked on by John O’Shea for central defensive partner Richard Dunne to dive in and head his side in front with just 40 seconds gone.

However, Ireland received an early warning that their dream start was only that when Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov made his first contribution.

The Bulgaria skipper thumped a fourth-minute shot from 25 yards towards the top corner of Shay Given’s net but Given pulled off a fine save to preserve the Republic’s lead.

Stoilov’s side were starting to establish a momentum as Ireland found themselves being pushed back, and they were relieved when lone striker Dimtar Rangelov slid a left-foot effort high and wide from a tight angle.

Midfielder Keith Andrews had his heart in his mouth with 16 minutes gone when Zhivko Milanov went to ground under his challenge inside the box, but Croatian referee Ivan Bebek booked the full-back for diving as he was carried off on a stretcher.

Ireland threatened again four minutes later when, after McGeady’s left-wing cross had been cleared, Glenn Whelan drilled in a long-range effort which keeper Dimitar Ivankov did well to get his body behind.

The game settled into something of a lull with neither side making any real progress in a battle that was being fought out largely in the middle of the field.

Bulgaria were seeing plenty of the ball but, with Whelan and Andrews working hard in front of a well-organised back four, they lacked penetration.

However, they perhaps should have been on level terms with 27 minutes gone after Stanislav Manolev slipped past left-back Kevin Kilbane and squared the ball for the unmarked Blagoy Georgiev 15 yards out.

Georgiev, one of the dangermen identified by Republic boss Giovanni Trapattoni in the run-up to the game, connected reasonably well with his first-time shot but it was too close to Given, who made a comfortable save – by his standards - low to his left.

Whelan smashed an ambitious 32nd-minute volley well wide after Hunt had climbed well to head on O’Shea’s long ball but there was little to choose between the sides as half-time approached.

Kilbane got away with misjudging a high ball when Rangelov fired over from Stanislav Angelov’s cut-back as the Bulgarians, who had drawn their three previous qualifiers, failed to make the most of their chances.

The visitors were confident in possession and whenever they did surrender the ball it was returned cheaply, with Trapattoni’s men struggling to find green shirts.

Kilbane very nearly did just that to play Doyle in behind the visitors’ rearguard three minutes before the break but his pass was slightly overhit and Ivankov came from his line swiftly to claim it.

Stoilov, who had replaced the injured Milanov with Radostin Kishishev before the break, made a second change at half-time when he sent on Velizar Dimitrov for Ivelin Popov.

Bulgaria started brightly as Ireland struggled to impose themselves with even the normally reliable Given succumbing to anxiety with a scuffed 49th-minute clearance as the men in front of him dallied over a seemingly harmless ball on the edge of the box.

But, as the half wore on, they gradually found their feet once again and regained the solid shape that had kept the visitors at bay during the opening 45 minutes.

Kishishev went for goal from distance with 55 minutes gone and caught the ball sweetly but it was deflected wide by one of his own team-mates as it sped through a crowded penalty area.

For all their possession, the Bulgarians were unable to trouble Given and it was Ireland who threatened with 58 minutes gone after Manolev had been booked for a cynical tug on Hunt’s shirt when the winger had gone past him.

The ball eventually reached McGeady wide on the left and his inswinging cross was just claimed by Ivankov at the near post before Doyle could get there.

It would have been 2-0 on the hour had it not been for the Bulgarian keeper’s intervention when he blocked Robbie Keane’s left-foot shot on the turn after Doyle had headed down O’Shea’s long free-kick.

However, there was an anxious moment for Kilbane with 66 minutes gone when he and Rangelov went to ground inside the box, although the referee decided the striker had been the aggressor.

Ivankov almost handed McGeady the second goal on a plate seconds later when he punched Hunt’s cross straight to him but he atoned with a fine save from the winger’s side-footed effort.

The tension was rising as the game entered the final 20 minutes with Ireland doing most of the pressing, but knowing they were vulnerable on the counter.

The equaliser duly arrived with 16 minutes remaining, and it did so in heartbreaking fashion.

Kishishev’s beautifully floated ball over the top was met by Petrov beyond the far post, and when he side-footed it back across goal, Kilbane could only divert it into his own net.

Keane might have snatched victory six minutes from time when he cut inside from the left, but his shot curled just past the far post, and Doyle headed straight at the keeper in stoppage time as Bulgaria held out.