Europa dream over for Derry

Derry City 1 CSKA Sofia 1 (CSKA win 2-1 on aggregate)

Brazilian midfielder Marquinhos ended Derry’s Europa League dream with a crucial away goal at the Brandywell.

CSKA, with a 1-0 first leg advantage, had the best chance of the first half just before the interval when first leg goalscorer Ivan Stoyanov’s 20 yard drive was well saved by Ger Doherty.

The Bulgarians then silenced the home crowd with the lead goal on the night on 70 minutes when Marquinhos beat the unsighted Doherty with a free kick which he curled round the wall from 35 yards.

David Scullion got a goal back for Derry on 82 minutes when nodding home after Tam McManus headed Ruaidhri Higgins’ free kick back across goal.

Needing to score twice more, the game was all but over for Derry on 87 minutes when substitutive Gareth McGlynn was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle from behind.