Crowd trouble mars CSKA Sofia win over Derry City

Derry City's Europa League campaign came to an end at the hands of CSKA Sofia in a match marred by trouble in the stands at the Brandywell Stadium. The Candystripes levelled the tie on aggregate two minutes into the second half when Ellis Chapman headed in front on the night. The hosts, cheered on by a loud home support, looked like they would go on to win the game until referee Jasmin Sabotic was forced to take the players off the pitch before the hour mark after a section of the visiting support tried to get into the home section in the shared Southend Park stand. Some Derry City fans had to come onto the playing surface until calm was eventually restored and play resumed again after nearly 15 minutes. But the delay took the steam out of the home side with Ioannis Pittas, who scored a double in the first leg, taking advantage of a defensive mix up to put his side back in front again on 76 minutes. Derry City pushed for a late leveller but more salt was rubbed into the wound when the unfortunate Barry Cotter put through his own own goal on 108 minutes to make it 5-3 on aggregate whi ch led to objects being thrown at CSKA keeper Dimiar Emitov from the North Stand. The teams came out to a wall of noise from both sets of fans as the sun baked down on the lush new surface at the Brandywell. The hosts settled well and should have edged in front on 12 minutes after a scintillating run down the left-hand side by Kevin dos Santos. The wide man left three defenders in his wake before whipping a great ball across the face off goal, which the sliding Adam O'Reilly just failed to turn home. Ioannis Pittas, who bagged a double in the first leg, went close to breaking the deadlock on the night as he showed quick feet to get a shot away in the box, but Brian Maher was down quick to block with his legs. Leandro Godoy had a goal-bound header blocked by Patrick McClean on 35 minutes, before the striker fluffed his lines from eight yards out on 41 minutes after he found space from a corner. Right on the half-time whistle the hosts were inches away from levelling the tie on aggregate after more great work by dos Santos. The tricky winger beat his marker before playing in Michael Duffy, who raced into the box before rattling the post with a shot from a tight angle. The momentum continued after the break as Derry City got their just rewards when Ellis Chapman headed in a knock back from Brandon Fleming as the hosts looked rampant. But the lengthy delay changed the momentum of the game again as Pittas nipped in between Patrick McClean and Brian Maher to restore the visitors' lead with 14 minutes to go. Despite ramping up the pressure in the closing stages it was the Bulgarians who added to their lead thanks to Cotter's own goal with Derry City now dropping into the Conference League, where they will play NK Rijeka of Croatia in the second qualifying round.