Absentees through injury and a lack of match sharpness proved fatal at the Huvepharma Arena last night, as Julio Ribas’ depleted Gibraltar side fell 5-1 to a resurgent Bulgarian outfit.
As well as the cold conditions and heavily worn-out pitch, Gibraltar also faced a hostile atmosphere on the night, however, a 50th cap for veteran striker Lee Casciaro, and more minutes for young up-and-coming starlet Nicholas Pozo, provided silver linings to Gibraltar’s evening.
Despite the eventual scoreline, Gibraltar started the bout in promising fashion, looking solid in defence whilst posing a threat in attack, particularly on the counter with the likes of the ever-energetic Casciaro up front, supported by Ethan Britto, Jayce Olivero, Kian Ronan and Scott Wiseman on the flanks.
Gibraltar would succeed in frustrating the raucous home crowd for the opening moments, but their defence would eventually be breached in the 23rd minute, as Anton climbed highest to nod in Bulgaria’s first of the night.
As he has done countless times before, Gibraltar captain Roy Chipolina provided the perfect response for Julio Ribas’ men, as he forced his way through a mess of Bulgarian bodies to power home an equaliser on the 26th minute to make it 1-1 and to stun the Huvepharma crowd.
Following the Gibraltar equaliser, the mood seemed to shift in Razgrad as Bulgaria turned up the pressure, launching wave after wave of attack until eventually Despodov found a way through Gibraltar’s stubborn defence to make it 2-1 to the hosts at half-time.
Bulgaria would play out the second half in similar fashion as two quickfire goals, first from Kirilov and then from Stefanov, saw them double their goals tally by the hour mark, before a late strike by Petkov made it 5-1 on the night.
Gibraltar’s attention now turns to Monday evening, when they host Nations League C, Group 4 winners, Georgia, at the Victoria Stadium.
