Ireland Secures 2-1 Victory Over Bulgaria in Nations League Playoff

The Republic of Ireland secured a 2-1 comeback victory against Bulgaria in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League playoff, with goals from Finn Azaz and Matt Doherty after falling behind early. Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson praised his team's character and performance, particularly in the first half, but acknowledged a need for improvement, especially in the second half where they became too passive defensively. The win marks Ireland's first away victory in the Nations League since October 2022 and gives them a slight edge heading into the second leg in Dublin. Hallgrimsson emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and confidence following a challenging match against England previously. Despite missing several key players due to suspensions and injuries, Ireland aims to retain their League B status. The second leg is set to take place at Aviva Stadium on Sunday.