Atanas Kurdov opened the scoring for Bulgaria shortly before the break and Momchil Tsvetanov doubled the advantage midway through the second half.

Ireland’s best chance came when captain Eddie Nolan headed over the bar in the 56th minute as the visitors pressed for an equaliser.

Defeat means the Irish sink to the bottom of a group which also includes England, Portugal and minnows Montenegro.

Manager Don Givens restored Owen Garvan and Sean Scannell to the side after they missed last month’s friendly in Austria while Sligo Rovers defender Seamus Coleman kept his place at right-back.

Blackburn trio Nolan, Keith Treacy and Alan Judge all started and there were places on the bench for Shamrock Rovers pair Simon Madden and Padraig Amond.

The match kicked off in intense heat and despite an attacking start from the visitors it was Bulgaria who had the first real attempt in the 20th minute.

Lachezar Baltanov created a shooting opportunity and struck an ambitious 35-yard effort but it was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Shane Redmond.

Bulgaria took the lead moments before the half-time interval when Tsvetanov broke down the left and pulled the ball back to Kurdov, who turned and directed his shot into the far corner of the net past Redmond.

Garvan was denied the opportunity to draw level straight after the restart when he narrowly failed to latch on to Scannell’s through-ball.

Given’s side continued to press for an equaliser and Treacy smashed a shot across the face of the goal shortly afterwards.

Skipper Eddie Nolan had the next chance of the game when he headed over from Seamus Coleman’s free-kick in the nine minutes after half-time but despite their pressure it was home side who struck next.

Tsvetanov drifted in from the left and blasted his shot low past Redmond and into the net in the 77th minute to seal the victory for Bulgaria.