Eder nets late Italy equaliser in Bulgaria

Eder scored an 84th-minute equaliser as Italy drew 2-2 with Bulgaria in Euro 2016 Group H to extend their unbeaten run in qualifiers to 45 matches.

Italy last tasted defeat in the qualifying stages of a major tournament in September 2006, but were on the verge of losing that proud record after Ivelin Popov and Iliyan Micanski had given Ivaylo Petev's side a 2-1 lead after 17 minutes as Bulgaria fought back following Yordan Minev's fourth-minute own goal.

That was until the Brazil-born, Italy-naturalised Sampdoria striker - who came on a 58th-minute substitute for his Azzurri debut in Sofia - netted a brilliant strike with six minutes remaining, a turn and shot from the edge of the area from Giorgio Chiellini's short pass that arrowed past Bulgaria goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov.

The 28-year-old's call up had prompted disquiet in Italy, with Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini particularly vocal in his opposition to the decision of national team manager Antonio Conte to draft him into the Azzurri squad, but he silenced the detractors with a crucial strike that earned a point for his newly-adopted country.

It was perhaps a little tough on the home side, who had defended valiantly for much of the second half in spite of some unconvincing goalkeeping from Mihaylov, who was to blame for Italy's opener as he flapped at a deep cross from the left from Andrea Bertolacci.

Italy, who lie two points behind leaders Croatia in the group at the halfway point, travel to Zagreb in June for their next Group H clash.

Bulgaria remain in fourth, four points behind third-placed Norway, and will travel to Malta for their next match in June.

4' – GOAL! Bulgaria 0-1 Italy. The cross from the left by Andrea Bertolacci is excellent but Mihaylov flaps at the centre and Yordan Minev puts the ball into his own goal at the far post under pressure from Zaza.

10' – GOAL! Bulgaria 1-1 Italy. Ivelin Popov receives the ball 25 yards out after Bonucci makes a mistake in trying to cut out the pass, and drills it past Sirigu and into the far corner of the Italy goal.

16' – GOAL! Bulgaria 2-1 Italy. Iliyan Micanski heads home his first goal for club and country for six months with a header from close range from Miilanov's dinked cross following Popov's driving counter attack.

19' – CHANCE! Immobile heads wide with the goal gaping from Verratti's free-kick from the left, following Milanov's foul on Chiellini.

36'-HITS THE WOODWORK! Popov's floated free-kick from the left-hand side of the area flicks the top of the crossbar with Sirigu floundering.

80' – CHANCE! A 14th corner for Italy. Gabbiadini's corner finds Chiellini, but the Juve defender is unable to get a clean connection following Eder's near-post flick.

84' – GOAL! Bulgaria 2-2 Italy. Eder nets on his debut with a brilliant turn and shot from the edge of the area, beating Dyakov by rolling him with his back to goal as he received Chiellini's pass, then arrowing a shot past Mihaylov.

86' – CHANCE! Immobile flicks on for Gabbiadini at the far post, but his turn and shot is just wide of Mihaylov's goal.

Italy are unbeaten in 45 qualifying matches in all competitions (W33 D12) since a 3-1 loss to France on 6 September 2006.

Bulgaria have won just two of their last 12 competitive internationals at home.

Will Ciro Immobile ever fire for Italy? The Borussia Dortmund striker was excellent in Sofia, linking up well with his strike partner Simone Zaza and causing the Bulgaria backline all kinds of problems with his movement off the shoulder of the last defender. But the 25-year-old has only one goal in his 10 matches at international level - is he a player destined to look good on the international stage without ever adding the goals his all-round play merits?

Ivelin Popov(Bulgaria) The 27-year-old, who won his 52nd cap at the Stadion Vasil Levski, is the only player in the Bulgaria starting line-up with a half-century of international appearances. The Krasnodar playmaker was the inspiration behind Bulgaria's fine first-half showing, scoring a superb goal, but his link-up play with Iliyan Micanski was also excellent.

Ivaylo Petev's side caused Italy all kinds of problems with their fast counter-attacks, and the experienced Popov was at the heart of all of it.

Bulgaria: Mihaylov 5; Manolev 7, Bodurov 7, A Aleksandrov 7, Minev 7, Dyakov 8, Gadzhev 7; Milanov 7, Popov 8, M. Alexandrov 6, Micanski 8. Subs: Slavchev 6, V Vasilev 6, Bozhinov 6.

Italy: Sirigu 6; Barzagli 6, Bonucci 6, Chiellini 6; Darmian 6, Candreva 6, Verratti 7, Bertolacci 6, Antonelli 7; Zaza 7, Immobile 8. Subs: Eder 8, Soriano 6, Gabbiadini 6.