Bulgaria strengthened their position in Group G with a clinical performance at home against Belarus in the Euro 2008 qualifiers played June 6. Having notched up a comfortable 2-0 win away to the same side on June 2, Bulgaria could have been forgiven for thinking that they would have an easy time at home.

It was anything, but easy for Bulgaria as Belarus piled on the pressure from the word go. Only five minutes into the game, the visitors had a penalty after Bulgaria goalkeeper Dimitar Ivankov downed Belarus midfielder Alexander Hleb. Roman Vasiluk gratefully deposited the ball in the bottom left-hand corner to set up a tough game for Bulgaria.

However the hosts woke up soon after and were on level terms within five minutes after Belarus midfielder Vladimir Korytko fouled Hristo Yovov just outside the area. Martin Petrov, who plays for Athletico Madrid, made no mistake with a curling shot into the top-left corner. His 30 yarder put Bulgaria on level terms at home.

Thereafter Bulgaria attacked with renewed vigor and were rewarded for their tenacity when midfielder Chavdar Yankov put them ahead in the 40th minute. Yankov received a wonderful pass from Dimitar Telkiyski through the right flank and made sure he was steady before unleashing a clinical shot into the bottom-left corner. Belarus goalkeeper Yuri Zhevnov could only watch helplessly as the ball crashed into his net.

Bulgaria had the better time of it after the break as well and could have sealed the match if Petrov could have outguessed the Belarus keeper in the 83rd minute. His curling free-kick from 30 yards out landed safely into the hands of Zhevnov. Belarus were a subdued lot after the lead had slipped them by and their best chance of an equalizer came in the 70th minute when Vitaly Kutuzov had a free header from a Vladimir Korytko corner only to splay it wide.

Bulgaria occupy the second spot in Group G with 15 points from 7 games, while Belarus are in the fifth spot with seven points from as many games. Bulgaria v Belarus finished with a narrow 2-1 home win for Bulgaria to occupy second spot.