UCD bowed out of the InterToto Cup in the second leg of the first round to FC Velbazhd in Kyustendil, Bulgaria yesterday. Martin Moran's side fought bravely but were disappointed at the end of a gruelling 90 minutes played in 30 degree heat and sapping humidity.
Velbazhd were well on top throughout a rather one-sided first-half in which goalkeeper Barry Ryan produced fine saves to deny Boyko Velichkov and Ivan Stankov.
UCD finished strongly but could never mount a serious assault on the Velbazhd goal as the Bulgarians held on for the draw.
UCD: Ryan; McLoughlin, Delaney, McAuley, Mahon; Martin, Kavanagh, Martyn, Dunne; O'Byrne, Bennis. Subs: Kilmurray for Bennis (74 mins), O'Donnell for Martin (82 mins.).
READ MORE
Referee: I Gorozhankin (Ukraine).
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)