Fast start pays dividends for Bulgaria in Austria

Two goals in the first nine minutes sealed victory for Bulgaria and lifted Michail Madanski's team into second place in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 10.

Momchil Tsvetanov and Rosen Kolev got the goals to lift Bulgaria to within two points of the Netherlands, who have a game in hand. Austria, who now visit Bulgaria on Tuesday, are fourth on four points after a three-game winless run.

Bulgaria took the lead with their first attack, Tsvetanov giving the visitors the perfect start when he turned in a left-wing cross from Aleksandar Tsvetkov. Indeed, it could have been 2-0 moments later had Austria goalkeeper Jörg Siebenhandl not denied Borislav Baldzhiski.

The second goal soon arrived, however, with Kolev the scorer. Tsvetanov took a corner from the right and when the ball came back to him, he delivered a high cross which Kolev headed powerfully in from close range. The only opportunity of note for the home side was a late effort from Patrick Farkas.