NI women beat Bulgaria 4-1 in a 2013 Euro qualifier
Last updated on .From the section Football
Northern Ireland coasted to a 4-1 victory over Bulgaria in a Women's Euro 2013 qualifier at Solitude.
Goals from Simone Magill and Kirsty McGuinness inside the opening five minutes put the home side on the road to victory in Group Three on Saturday.
Bulgaria pulled one back but an own-goal gave Northern Ireland a two-goal cushion at half time.
Caragh Milligan's added a fourth on 55 minutes for Alfie Wylie's side who are three points behind leaders Belgium.
It took Simone Magill just three minutes to open the scoring when, following an excellent build up, she found herself clear on the edge of the area and placed the ball beyond the reach of 'keeper Roksana Shahanska.
Two minutes later Kirsty McGuinness added a second. This time Magill turned provider with a great delivery for the Sunderland player to lob over goalkeeper Shahanska.
The visitors pulled one back on 34 minutes following a lapse in concentration which created an opening for Valentina Gospodinova to calmly fire past Emma Higgins.
But Northern Ireland's two-goal cushion was restored a minute from the break when midfielder Borislava Kireva headed into her own net whilst attempting a corner from McGuinness.
It was 4-1 ten minutes into the second half after Caragh Milligan unleashed a sweet finish past Shahanska.
Bulgaria did come close in the closing moments but were denied twice by the excellent Higgins.
