Estonia held Bulgaria to a 0-0 draw Wednesday in a European Championship qualifier - preventing the Bulgarians from further strengthening their position at the top of Group 8, AP reported.
The Bulgarians arrived in Estonia having won all three of their previous qualifiers. But the home side mounted their trademark scrappy defense and even created most of the better chances throughout the match.
The Bulgarians seemed to establish some control as the match progressed in the first half. But despite several opportunities to score, they failed to do so.
In the second half, the Estonians looked the more inspired side. The match took place before a sparse crowd of some 3,000 in Tallinn.
Bulgarian captain Krassimir Balakov, minutes after being yellow carded, came close to scoring in the 81st minute, but Estonian 'keeper Mart Poom saved his free kick from just outside the box.
Lineups:
Estonia: Mart Poom, Sergei Terehov, Kert Haavistu (Ott Reinumae, 62), Urmas Rooba, Marko Kristal, Indrek Zelinski (Kristen Viikmae, 56), Marek Lemsalu, Teet Allas, Enar Jaager, Andres Oper, Liivo Leetma.
Bulgaria: Zdravko Zdravkov, Radostin Kishishev, Rosen Kirilov, Predrag Pajin, Dimitar Berbatov, Krasimir Balakov, Stiliyan Petrov, Georgi Peev, Milen Petkov, Martin Petrov (Milan Petkov, 71), Zoran Jankovic (Svetoslav Todorov, 46).