Bulgaria lost 3:0 against Croatia in group „H“ qualifying game in Zagreb.
The host could not have wished for a better start when Ivan Periši? scored the second-minute opener. Luka Modri? sent an excellent ball through a host of Bulgarian defenders and Periši? was on hand to net his fifth goal of the campaign.
Croatia doubled their lead before the break, after Ivan Rakiti? played an excellent double-pass combination with Kalini?. Rakiti? picked up the ball and scored to extend the advantage of his team.
To the surprise of some, Modri? was substituted at half-time, with Milan Badelj replacing him, while Bulgaria coach Ivaylo Petev also made two changes, as Georgi Milanov replace Todor Nedelev and Ivo Ivanov took the place of Georgi Terziev.
In the second half Kalini? had two excellent chances to get on the scoresheet but his powerful header was saved by goalkeeper Bozhidar Mitrev.
Croatia remained the dominant force yet had their work cut out as Bulgaria sought to expose them down the flanks. However in the 81st minute Periši? supplied Kalini? with an exquisite cross which he tucked into the net.
In the 89-th minute Croatia substitute Duje ?op received a red card, for a challenge on Strahil Popov.
In their last qualifying game Bulgaria will face Azerbaidjan in Sofia.
Lineups
Croatia: Subasic, Corluka, Srna, Vida, Perisic, Rakitic, Modric (46- Badelj), Kovacic, Pivaric, Pyaca (60-Cop), Kalinic (85- Kramari?).
Head Coach: Ante ?a?i?
BULGARIA: Mitrev, G. Milanov, Terziev (46-I.Ivanov), Alexandrov, Popov, Slavchev, Zlatinski, Tonev, Popov (71-Aleksandrov), Nedelev (G. Milanov), Rangelov.
Head Coach: Ivaylo Petev
Referee: Arthur Dias
Stadium "Maksimir", Zagreb
Department "Public Relations and Media"
