Bulgaria Defeat Georgia 2-1 to Avoid Historic Winless Qualifying Campaign

Bulgaria secured their first victory of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying cycle on Tuesday, defeating Georgia 2-1 at the National Stadium Vasil Levski. The win, orchestrated by two assists from Zdravko Dimitrov, ensures the one-time World Cup semi-finalists avoid their first winless qualifying campaign in 72 years.

Despite both teams being eliminated from contention for the tournament, the home side played with purpose and secured the result with a strong first-half performance, holding off a late Georgian rally to claim three points.

Dominant Start and Stunning Opener

Bulgaria immediately took control of the match and were rewarded with an early lead in the 10th minute. Zdravko Dimitrov retrieved the ball near the byline and delivered a lofted pass into the penalty area. Georgi Rusev met it with a spectacular overhead kick, with the ball just crossing the line despite Giorgi Kochorashvili’s attempt to clear it.

The anticipated Georgian response was muted. Their most dangerous player, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, fired an effort from outside the box narrowly wide, but it proved to be a rare threat in a disjointed first-half display from the visitors.

Goalkeeping Error Doubles the Advantage

Bulgaria capitalized on their momentum to double the lead in the 24th minute. Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili misjudged a situation, racing off his line only to be left stranded. Zdravko Dimitrov seized on the error, calmly sliding a pass to Filip Krastev, who fired into the unguarded net.

Georgia struggled to create meaningful chances before the interval, leaving manager Willy Sagnol with significant work to do at half-time as his team faced a fourth consecutive qualifying defeat.

Second-Half Consolation and Historic Context

Georgia showed more initiative after the break. Dimitar Mitov was forced into a smart save to deny Giorgi Kvilitaia in the 52nd minute. Kvaratskhelia remained the focal point of their attack but was largely contained by the Bulgarian defense.

The visitors’ efforts were rewarded with a consolation goal in the dying moments. Luka Lochoshvili scored from close range to make the scoreline more respectable, but it was too little, too late.

The victory provides a positive end to a disappointing campaign for Bulgaria and marks the first win for manager Aleksandar Dimitrov. However, it does not alter the fact that the nation has failed to qualify for a World Cup since its 1998 appearance. For Georgia, the search for a first-ever World Cup finals berth since independence continues, having finished their Group E campaign with just one win from eight matches.