CSKA Sofia is through on aggregate after securing a draw in Ireland with battling Derry City, although the Irish were lucky not to concede a defeat on their own turf.

Derry City bowed out gracefully from the Europa League after a lively, entertaining and fast European encounter, as CSKA Sofia's second-half away goal ensured a 2-1 aggregate success for the Bulgarians.
 
Brandywell was a noisy venue with 3000 plus Spartan home supporters, but the wall of noise was not going to unnerve the Bulgarian vice-champions. Marcos Malachias' 72nd-minute free kick from about 30 metres beat Gerard Doherty to silence the passionate home crowd, ending the dream of the Irish, as they knew there was no way they could score back three. 
 
CSKA were obviously the more mature side and showed signs of aggression from early on, but the Brandywell side fought well, stood sound tactically and defensibly on the pitch, and made the Bulgarians work hard and sweat for it.
 
CSKA’s Ivan Stoyanov and Brazilian, Marcos Malachias, enjoyed a potent evening, displaying speed, pace and hunger, and they were particularly menacing for the entire first half. A swerving shot from long range by Pavel Vidanov after just three minutes on the clock signalled CSKA's intent but Gerard Doherty, was alert and saved it.
 
The Bulgarians continued surging forward and in the 26^th minute a curling free-kick from Todor Timonov was also dealt with by Doherty as the Bulgarians continued to probe for cracks in the defence.
 
The second half was not too different from the first, with Derry fighting hard and brave to fend of the Bulgarian surges, but finally Doherty, who until that point had made some superb saves to keep his team’s dream alive, tasted defeat as the ball hit the back of his net from a thunderous free kick about 30 metres out.
 
Derry were going to fight for pride, however, and substitute David Scullion replied on the 83^rd minute. It was a morale-boosting goal and the Irish went forward, creating some further pressure, but it was obvious to everyone that the hosts simply could not score two more goals in the remaining six or so minutes.
 
And then just in the end, Doherty reacted brilliantly to beat away a pointblank Stoianov in injury time.
 
 
Derry City: Doherty; O'Brien, Delaney, Hutton, O'Brien; Stewart, Deery, Molloy (Scullion, 73), Higgins, Farren (McGlynn, 52); McManus (Nash, 89).
 
CSKA Sofia: Chavdarov (Karadjou, 29); Minev, Kotev, Ivanov, Vidanov; Todorov, Yanev, Petrov, Stoyanov; Timonov (Rui Migel, 65), Malachias (Orlinov, 82).