Belarus took the lead in the fifth minute after Bulgaria goalkeeper Dimitar Ivankov brought down Belarus midfielder Alexander Hleb in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot.

Striker Roman Vasiluk stepped up and made no mistake, dispatching it into the bottom-left corner.

The goal shook Bulgaria into life and they equalised four minutes later after Belarus midfielder Vladimir Korytko fouled Bulgaria attacking midfielder Hristo Yovov on the edge of the penalty area.

Atletico Madrid's Martin Petrov took the resulting free-kick and directed his shot into the top-left corner of the net from 30 yards out to pull the home side level.

Bulgaria took control of the game and took a deserved lead in the 40th minute through midfielder Chavdar Yankov.

Winger Dimitar Telkiyski threaded a pass from the right flank to Yankov, who steadied himself before hitting his shot into the bottom-left corner of the goal past the despairing dive of Belarus goalkeeper Yuri Zhevnov.

Bulgaria continued to press after the half-time break and Petrov almost made it 3-1.

The 28-year-old winger almost collected his second goal of the game in the 83rd minute after a foul by Belarus defender Artem Radkov on Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov.

Petrov took the free-kick and curled it left footed from 30 yards, but this time Zhevnov guessed correctly and was able to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Belarus rarely looked like levelling matters and their best chance of equalising came in the 70th minute from a corner.

Vladimir Korytko delivered a dangerous outswinging corner from the right which was met by the head of Vitaly Kutuzov, but he could only direct the ball straight at Ivankov.

Stanimir Stoilov's side now move up to second place in Group G, one point ahead of third-placed Holland having played an extra game while Yuri Puntus'sBelarus remain in fifth place.