Bulgaria strengthen Group

Bulgaria cruised to a 2-1 win over Andorra in their Euro 2004 qualifier on Wednesday, to strengthen their leading position in Group Eight.

RESULTS: the situation in group 8

The Bulgarians dominated the whole match and missed several chances to score but a lack of concentration at times allowed the ultra-defensive visitors to score their first goal in the qualifying campaign.

Georgi Chilikov, celebrating his third cap, scored Bulgaria's opening goal, set up by Georgi Peev, in the 37th minute.

Bulgaria captain and playmaker Krassimir Balakov, who had not fully recovered from a stomach muscle injury, sealed the victory 14 minutes into the second half from a free kick, striking the ball with his left foot over the wall and into the upper left corner.

Andorra's Tony Lima surprised the home side when he headed into the net from a corner nine minutes from time, only to be sent off two minutes later for a foul on Vladimir Manchev.