Lynch vows overhaul after Derry concede to CSKA Sofia

Ioannis Pittas opened the scoring for CSKA Sofia, giving the Bulgarian side the early lead in a tightly contested Europa League first‑qualifying tie, a moment that set the tone for Derry City's 3‑2 defeat and sparked manager Tiernan Lynch's later disappointment.

Liam Boyce levelled the score for Derry. Bruno Jardao then added a further goal for the Bulgarian side, followed by a second strike from Pittas. James Olayinka secured Derry's second goal, illustrating the back‑and‑forth nature of the encounter.

Tiernan Lynch said he was very disappointed with the goals his side conceded, acknowledging the narrow 3‑2 defeat to the Bulgarian side. He added that the team improved after the break and that there is still all to play for.

Lynch praised CSKA Sofia’s quality, noting they are a good side with good footballers who keep the ball well. They kept the ball well, and he expressed respect for their performance, saying the Irish side were delighted with their own progress as the game went on.

The Candystripes will host CSKA Sofia at the Brandywell on 16 July, giving Derry a chance to overturn the deficit in the second leg. Lynch said the team will review the game, identify areas of improvement and devise a plan for next Thursday night, insisting, "We'll go back and we'll look at the game, we'll look at the things where we could've been better."

He also highlighted that Derry created more chances than they converted, providing confidence ahead of the return fixture. The Irish side remain optimistic about progressing in the Europa League first‑qualifying round.