Derry City vs CSKA Sofia

Derry City's European run came to a bruising end at Brandywell, where CSKA Sofia held out for a 1-2 win despite a spirited fightback from the hosts. The night was overshadowed by tension in the stands, with the game briefly halted amid crowd trouble between rival supporters. Ellis Chapman gave Derry City real hope, firing them ahead in the 47th minute and sending Brandywell into raptures. CSKA Sofia responded through Ioannis Pittas, who leveled things up in the 74th minute, before the visitors snatched the win deep into stoppage time when Barry Cotter turned the ball into his own net. The defeat means Derry City's European campaign is over, falling 5-3 on aggregate after last week's 3-2 loss in Sofia. It's a cruel way to bow out given the effort shown across both legs. CSKA Sofia move on to face Qarabag in the second qualifying round, buoyed by another gritty result on the road.