Bulgaria have opened their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a late 2-1 win over Azerbaijan in Baku.

The visitors made the breakthrough with just 14 minutes played when Ilijan Micanski found the bottom corner from inside the box.

The hosts enjoyed a positive start to the second period, and they drew level on 53 minutes as Dimitrij Nazarov smashed the ball home from 20 yards.

Bulgaria responded well through chances for Vladimir Gadzhev and Georgi Iliev, but the pair both failed to get their efforts on target.

Gadzhev was afforded another opportunity on 80 minutes as Bulgaria pushed hard for a winner, though he could only shoot wide of the post.

Despite those misses, the away side secured the victory with just three minutes remaining when substitute Ventsislav Hristov headed in from a corner.

Written by
Jack Prescott