The Republic of Ireland halted Bulgaria, at Vassil Levski stadium, took a vital point and maintained their five point lead. The visitors are second in Group Eight with 13 points, behind leaders Italy with 14, and Bulgaria are third with eight points, with a game in hand.

Bulgaria still has a mathematical chance of qualifying for South Africa, but their fate is no longer up to them. They will hope that somewhere along the way, the Irish will slip.
 
The Republic of Ireland started well, forcing Dimitar Ivankov to make early saves from a Stephen Hunt header and a Caleb Folan shot.
 
Some minutes later, not too dissimilar to the first match in Croke Park, Hunt won and delivered a free-kick for Richard Dunne to open the score, before Kevin Kilbane’s error allowed the hosts back into the game.
 
In a horrendous mistake by Bulgarian defenders, Dunne was left unmarked to head the Republic into the lead in the 25th minute from Hunt's free-kick.
 
The defensive blunder, however, was shortly returned by the Irish graciously, with Kevin Kilbane allowing Dimitar Telkiyski to equalise some five minutes later. .
 
It was a relatively strong Bulgarian first half which followed a lively first 10 minutes by the visitors. The home side was determined to maintain pressure over the proceedings and Giovanni Trapattoni's side were on the back foot for most of the second half as well, but the domination in possession brought little for Bulgaria.
 
The second half more or less had Bulgaria pushing against a defensive wall of men, Italian style, the Irish organised by Trapattoni in a waterproof formation that was going to frustrate the hosts until the final whistle.
 
Martin Petrov had an attempt on goal which was pared by Shay Given. Valeri Bojinov then had an opportunity to put his team ahead as he unleashed a snap shot from inside the box, with Given looking nervous.
 
During that time, there was a spell when the Irish looked anxious with Bulgarian pushing forward looking for a winner. The visitors were well organised, however, and any momentary nervous situations were quickly dispelled.
 
Bulgaria looked for the winner they so desperately needed to boost their qualification prospects.
 
"It was a very tough game. We started the way we wanted, we passed the ball well, got the goal and got in front," said Dunne as quoted as saying by the Irish Times.
 
"But after that, it was such a big game for (Bulgaria), they really needed to win and they were always going to come at us."
 
It was a decent encounter on a sunny afternoon in Sofia that saw the travelling merry contingent of 3000 plus Irish supporters who had arrived to back their team, singing and drinking constantly. The carnival atmosphere was augmented by the 35 000 thousand Bulgarians who also created a wall of noise in support of their team.
 
It was a good day of football, without crowd trouble, and although the score could have been a little better for the hosts, it will go down as a pleasant encounter for both sides.