World Cup roundup: Northern Ireland hopes end, Denmark book spot in Qatar

12-Oct-2021 21:09:53 | Guardian

Northern Ireland take lead in Bulgaria before losing 2-1
Denmark beat Austria; Ronaldo scores 10th Portugal hat-trick

Northern Ireland’s slim hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar were ended by Bulgaria.

Conor Washington’s sixth international goal gave Ian Baraclough’s side a half-time lead as they looked to have responded well to Saturday’s controversial 2-0 defeat in Switzerland, but it all went wrong after the break. Yasen Petrov shuffled his pack at half-time and got the rewards, although Todor Nedelev took the credit as he beat Bailey Peacock-Farrell in fine fashion twice in 11 minutes to turn things around just after the hour. It made for more frustration for Baraclough, who had finally built some positive momentum last month but has seen things unravel quickly in the last week, the Qatar dream now definitively dead.