Cliftonville's Europa League run ended as CSKA Sofia's two late goals ensured a 2-1 win on the night at Windsor Park and a 5-1 aggregate success.

Spas Delev hit the Reds woodwork early on but Liam Boyce gave Cliftonville hope of getting back in the tie when he scored on 42 minutes.

However, Ciaran Donaghy's 63rd-minute dismissal was a blow for the Reds.

Tomi Kostadinov levelled for CSKA five minutes from time and Marcos Malachias struck again two minutes later.

Cliftonville were given little chance of getting back into the tie but the north Belfast side applied themselves well from the start.

George McMullan had the first attempt on goal in the fourth minute with a shot from outside the box which was deflected over the crossbar.

Keeper John Connolly came to Cliftonville's rescue in the 22nd minute as he tipped a Delev effort out for a corner.

Delev was inches away from putting CSKA ahead on 39 minutes with a fierce shot from 20 yards which hammered off the woodwork.

But the Reds gave themselves a glimmer of hope of launching a stunning fight back in the tie when Boyce fired past Ivan Karadzhov from 16 yards in the 42nd minute after a delightful Chris Scannell back heel.

The talented Boyce was being watched by representatives from both Celtic and Doncaster Rovers.

Cliftonville's hopes of further rattling the Bulgarians suffered a huge blow when they were reduced to 10 men - as had been the case in the first leg.

Donaghy was the man to receive his marching orders after being handed a second yellow card for dissent.

Two minutes earlier, Donaghy had received his opening caution for a foul on Rui Miguel Dos Reis.

Rui Migel hit the Reds crossbar on 69 minutes as Sofia started to pile on the pressure.

Cliftonville kept a clean sheet until five minutes from time when Kostadinov's shot from 35 yards flew past Connolly.

The Reds were still reeling from that goal when Malachias added a second Sofia goal after McMullan's attempted back-header failed to reach Connolly.

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