Vincent Thill found the decisive touch under the lights on Saturday as Luxembourg came from behind to beat Bulgaria 2-1, recording the first victory over the Bulgarians in the country’s history.
A first win after 17 previous meetings
Luxembourg had never defeated Bulgaria across their first 17 encounters, but turned the Nations League C Group 4 opener around to claim a landmark result. The side ranked 98th in the FIFA standings had fallen behind before completing the comeback.
- Luxembourg beat Bulgaria 2-1 in their opening Nations League C fixture.
- It was Luxembourg’s first-ever victory against Bulgaria.
- The result ended a winless sequence spanning 17 previous matches between the two nations.
Thill delivers the winner
The decisive moment arrived in the 65th minute. Following a corner, the ball remained loose in the Bulgarian penalty area and Thill reacted sharply, steering home Luxembourg’s second goal.
The 26-year-old, once regarded as a major prospect at Metz, has taken a winding route since his early years in France. He now plays for Mannheim in Germany’s third tier, but remains an important figure for his national team after a decade as an international.
Another major contribution for Luxembourg
Thill had already played a defining role in Luxembourg’s Nations League survival campaign in March. He scored in both legs of the relegation tie against Malta, with Luxembourg winning 2-0 away and 3-0 at home to remain in League C.
- March, first leg: Malta 0-2 Luxembourg — Thill scored.
- March, second leg: Luxembourg 3-0 Malta — Thill scored again.
- Saturday: Luxembourg 2-1 Bulgaria — Thill scored the winning goal in the 65th minute.
Luxembourg lead Group 4
The comeback lifted Luxembourg to the top of Group 4 after the other opening match ended level. Estonia and Iceland drew 1-1, leaving Thill’s team alone at the summit after the first round of fixtures.
