Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch stated that crowd disturbances during Thursday night’s Europa League match against CSKA Sofia negatively impacted his team’s chances of victory. The Candystripes lost the match 2-1, resulting in a 5-3 aggregate defeat in the first qualifying round.

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Lynch’s side managed to equalize on aggregate just two minutes after the second half commenced, with Ellis Chapman scoring a header.

With strong support from the home crowd, Derry City appeared poised to secure a win until referee Jasmin Sabotic halted the game before the hour mark due to a confrontation involving some visiting fans attempting to access the home section of the shared Southend Park stand.

Several Derry City supporters entered the pitch while order was restored, leading to a delay of nearly 15 minutes before play resumed.

However, the pause diminished the home side’s momentum, allowing Ioannis Pittas—who had scored twice in the first leg—to capitalize on a defensive error and restore CSKA Sofia’s lead in the 76th minute.

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Derry City sought a late equalizer, but Barry Cotter’s own goal in the 108th minute resulted in objects being thrown at CSKA keeper Dimiar Emitov from the North Stand.

“I thought the swing in it was the break. I thought we had them right there as they ended up getting a breather that we didn’t want them to have,” Lynch remarked to BBC Sport NI’s Eric White. “I think it had a huge impact on the game and I’m not making excuses in any way, shape or form.”

“You could see after we scored the momentum really started to swing our way, and that 13 or 14 minute break I thought gave them a lifeline, gave them a chance to get organised and regroup again.”

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Lynch also expressed his concerns for his son’s safety amid the chaotic scene in the stands. “My own wee man was in the crowd today, and I wasn’t sure where he was sitting, so like the fans, you were worried about the safety of your own kids,” he said. “When you saw somebody falling over trying to get out of the way and bottles being thrown, it looked like it was going to get extremely nasty, so great credit to the stewards; I thought they handled it brilliantly.”

“It’s not easy for the players to watch; they’re very much concentrating on what they needed to do and the gameplan, and they have to go inside and worry about what’s going on outside, which isn’t pleasant.”

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Despite the disappointing loss, Lynch commended his players for their effort and performance. “I couldn’t be more proud of them, the fight and the character they showed in the second half,” he noted. “CSKA are a very good side, but I felt second half we made them look very ordinary. I thought we created enough chances in the game to win, but I’m hugely disappointed with the goals we conceded and the manner in which we conceded them.”

“If they had cut us open with moments of brilliance, it would probably have been easier to swallow. First half, I thought we just weren’t at the races, and we gave them too much respect; we stood off them and never passed it. But second half, I thought we looked like a totally different team.”