Derry City made their exit from the Europa League as CSKA Sofia's second-half away goal ensured a 2-1 aggregate success for the Bulgarians.

Marcos Malachias' 70th-minute free kick from 35 yards beat Gerard Doherty to silence the passionate home crowd.

Sub David Scullion replied on 82 and Derry produced further pressure despite Gareth McGlynn's late sending off.

Doherty had kept Derry in the game with four superb saves but appeared at fault for the Bulgarians' vital away goal.

Pavel Vidinov tested Doherty with a vicious curling shot as early as the fourth minute although Derry went close at the other end two minutes later as the industrious Tam McManus flicked on a Ger O'Brien cross.

Derry's Mark Farren battles with Yordan Minev at the Brandywell

Derry continued to press and Ruaihdri Higgins fluffed a chance when he fired straight at a defender after goalkeeper Zdravko Chavdarov had clattered into Kevin Deery.

Chavdarov came off worse in the exchange and had to be replaced by sub goalkeeper Ivan Karadjov a few minutes later.

But the Bulgarians took control in the 15 minutes before half-time to put the home side under severe pressure.

Ivan Stoianov burst clear of the Derry defence but his poor first touch enabled the danger to be averted.

Peter Hutton then gifted Stoianov another chance but the striker fired wide.

Doherty reacted brilliantly to beat away a pointblank Stoianov effort while Barry Molloy made a superb last-ditch challenge to deny the striker in first-half injury time.

The introduction of McGlynn for the off-form Mark Farren gave Derry a more composed look in the third quarter.

Peter Hutton applauds Derry's supporters after the game

Derry had a scare on the hour when Doherty had to react to deny Malachias after being sold short by a Clive Delaney back header.

But the Candystripes had a great chance of their own on 69 minutes when Higgins headed straight at Karadjov with the goal seemingly gaping.

However, the tie was effectively over a minute later when Malachias' long-range free kick beat Doherty at the near post after looping over Derry's defensive wall.

To their credit, Derry kept battling and Scullion headed home from close range eight minutes from time after Hutton had nodded back a Higgins free kick.

McGlynn deserved a booking for his cynical 87th-minute foul on Olin Orlinov but the straight red card seemed a tad harsh.

Derry continued to press in injury-time but their hopes of further money-spinning European adventures were over - for this season at least.

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