Match ends, Cyprus 1, Bulgaria 1.
CyprusCyprus1BulgariaBulgaria1
Georgi Petkov became the oldest goalkeeper to play for a European team in an international as Bulgaria played out a Nations League draw with Cyprus.
Petkov played the full 90 minutes at the age of 42 years, eight months and two days - nine years after his previous cap for the national side.
Earlier this season, the Slavia Sofia keeper became the oldest player to appear in Bulgaria's top flight.
Bulgaria scored a last-minute equaliser to end Cyprus' hopes of promotion.
Debutant Panagiotis Zachariou looked to have kept Cyprus in contention but Nikolay Dimitrov rescued a precious point from the penalty spot for Bulgaria, who will battle it out with Norway for promotion.
"I take it as something normal," said Petkov. "This is not something to be astonished with. I have said before that I am always ready to help Bulgaria."
Giorgos Koudas is the oldest player to have represented a European nation - playing for Greece at the age of 48 in 1995. He was recalled 13 years after his last cap for a farewell appearance.
The oldest player to play for England was Stanley Matthews, who represented the Three Lions at the age of 42 years and 103 days against Denmark in 1957.
Line-ups
Cyprus
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Panayi
- 13Kousoulos
- 4Merkis
- 19Laifis
- 17MargaçaBooked at 68mins
- 18Artymatas
- 8Kyriakou
- 6Makris
- 7EfremSubstituted forPapafotisat 78'minutes
- 11AvraamSubstituted forIoannouat 59'minutes
- 15ZachariouSubstituted forRoushiasat 67'minutesBooked at 86mins
Substitutes
- 2Karo
- 3Ioannou
- 5Sielis
- 9Roushias
- 10Sotiriou
- 12Pardo
- 14Laban
- 16Fylaktou
- 20Wheeler
- 21Papafotis
- 22Christodoulou
- 23Economides
Bulgaria
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Petkov
- 2Popov
- 5Bodurov
- 15Bozhikov
- 14Nedyalkov
- 8NedelevBooked at 73mins
- 7Kostadinov
- 6SlavchevSubstituted forKostovat 82'minutes
- 18IvanovSubstituted forDimitrovat 56'minutes
- 10Popov
- 12KraevSubstituted forDelevat 56'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Tsvetkov
- 4Chorbadzhiyski
- 9Delev
- 11Bandalovski
- 13Makendzhiev
- 16Malinov
- 17Kostov
- 19Vasilev
- 20Raynov
- 21Hadzhiev
- 22Dimitrov
- 23Evtimov
- Referee:
- Mohammed Al-Hakim
- Attendance:
- 3,844
Match Stats
Home TeamCyprusAway TeamBulgaria
- Possession
- Home31%
- Away69%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away7
- Corners
- Home1
- Away10
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cyprus 1, Bulgaria 1.
Post update
Corner, Bulgaria. Conceded by Giorgos Merkis.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Vasil Bozhikov (Bulgaria) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Todor Nedelev with a cross.
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Corner, Bulgaria. Conceded by Kostas Laifis.
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Attempt missed. Strahil Popov (Bulgaria) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Stanislav Kostov.
Goal!
Goal! Cyprus 1, Bulgaria 1. Nikolay Dimitrov (Bulgaria) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Penalty Bulgaria. Ivelin Popov draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty conceded by Kostas Laifis (Cyprus) after a foul in the penalty area.
Booking
Onisiforos Roushias (Cyprus) is shown the yellow card.
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Offside, Cyprus. Ioannis Kousoulos tries a through ball, but Onisiforos Roushias is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Vasil Bozhikov (Bulgaria) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Todor Nedelev with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Bulgaria. Conceded by Constantinos Panayi.
Post update
Attempt saved. Nikolay Bodurov (Bulgaria) header from very close range is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Todor Nedelev with a cross.
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Corner, Bulgaria. Conceded by Ioannis Kousoulos.
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Attempt blocked. Renato Margaça (Cyprus) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andreas Makris.
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Nikolay Bodurov (Bulgaria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Onisiforos Roushias (Cyprus).
Substitution
Substitution, Bulgaria. Stanislav Kostov replaces Simeon Slavchev.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.