To nobody’s surprise, Turkey immediately went on the attack, with Abdulkerim Bardakci and Kerem Akturkoglu narrowly missing chances. But the latter would play a vital role when Turkey opened the scoring on 16 minutes, as Kristian Dimitrov fouled Akturkoglu just short of the D and centre of goal.
It was prime Hakan Calhanoglu territory, and while his direct free kick hit the wall, a handball from Hristiyan Petrov gave the Inter man a chance to net from the spot. He did so with all due coolness, sending Dimitar Mitov the wrong way with a powerful drive to the left of goal, making it 22 international goals on his 102nd cap.
Much in the same way they did when demolishing Bulgaria 6-1 only last month, Turkey predictably continued to dictate proceedings, and Akturkoglu very nearly doubled the lead on two occasions.
Firstly, he picked up a shrewd pass from Calhanoglu before turning and spinning to shoot, only for Mitov’s outstretched glove to keep Bulgaria alive, while the last action of the first half saw him hit a weak shot at the end of a squared ball from Kenan Yildiz.
Despite time running out for Bulgaria to avoid an eighth loss in nine internationals during this year alone, visiting coach Aleksandar Dimitrov resisted any urge to turn to his bench.
In turn, the second half began similarly to the first, with Akturkoglu narrowly missing his mark at the end of a promising Zeki Celik cross on two occasions.
Where Turkey’s number seven had repeatedly failed to that point, Bulgaria’s Georgi Rusev nearly succeeded with an equaliser barely two minutes later, firing in a shot from distance that went beyond Ugurcan Cakir’s futile dive and crashed off the far post to safety.
Kenan Yildiz nearly scored in a third successive November break with 25 minutes to play, with a jinking run into the box, but his shot dribbled just beyond the far post.
In the end, it was more Bulgarian misfortune that finally gave Turkey a killer second goal, and Calhanoglu once more played his part from a dead ball, floating a free kick from distance towards the far post, which Atanas Chernev prodded past Mitov under pressure from Samet Akaydin, giving himself a moment to forget on only his second cap.
Turkey saw out the remainder comfortably, but with Spain winning themselves over in Tbilisi, only a ludicrous margin of victory on La Roja’s own turf will see the 2002 bronze medallists snatch top spot and a direct ticket to North America next summer.
While it’ll no doubt be the March playoffs for Turkey, Bulgaria would instantly switch places with them given the choice, after a fifth loss in six meetings left them with just one final chance of avoiding a first winless WC qualification cycle in 72 years.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey)