Turkey 2-0 Bulgaria Player Ratings: Calhanoglu's Masterclass Helps Turkey Win WC Qualifier

Turkey maintained full control from start to finish as they claimed a composed 2–0 win over Bulgaria in their World Cup Qualification encounter. The hosts set the tone early, dictating possession and rhythm while Bulgaria struggled to disrupt their flow.

The breakthrough arrived in the first half after a handball in the box gifted Turkey a chance from the spot. Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu stepped up and converted with trademark calmness, giving his team an advantage they protected with assurance.

Turkey’s patience and precision in possession were among the defining features of the match. They built their attacks methodically, consistently working their way into threatening positions. Bulgaria, for their part, showed flashes of promise and nearly drew level when a fierce strike rattled the woodwork in the second half — a moment that briefly lifted their hopes.

Those hopes faded late on when a defensive misfortune resulted in an own goal, doubling Turkey’s lead and effectively ending the contest. While the performance may not have been the most dazzling, it was efficient and controlled from the home side.

Bulgaria will leave disappointed, not only by the scoreline but by the manner in which the goals were conceded. Turkey, meanwhile, walk away with a deserved victory and a confident step forward in their qualification campaign.

Here are Sportsdunia's Turkey vs Bulgaria Player Ratings from the WC Qualifier:

Turkey Player Ratings vs Bulgaria

Here are SportsDunia’s Turkey Player Ratings from the Turkey vs Bulgaria game:

Goalkeeper

Uğurcan Çakır - 7.0: A relatively quiet evening for the Turkish keeper. He was alert when needed making two important saves. One was a particularly good stop from a Kiril Despodov strike in the first half. From our perspective, he commanded his area well, especially on high claims, and his distribution was decent enough.

Defenders

Zeki Çelik - 6.5: A steady if unspectacular outing before his substitution. He was solid defensively, winning most of his duels and contributing to the buildup play from the back. We noticed he was a reliable outlet on the right flank but didn't offer a huge threat going forward. A job well done.

Merih Demiral - 6.0: Played only the first half and was largely untroubled. He was strong in the air and composed in his duels. Picked up a strange handball but was otherwise solid. His early substitution seemed precautionary, and he did his part to keep things tight at the back during his time on the pitch.

Abdülkerim Bardakcı - 6.5: A bit of a mixed bag for the defender. He picked up a yellow card and missed a decent headed chance early on. However, he was a giant at the back, making key interceptions and moving the ball with impressive accuracy. His passing range from the back was a key part of Turkey's buildup.

Ferdi Kadıoğlu - 7.5: Excellent performance in his 61 minutes. He was a rock on the left side, winning an impressive four out of five tackles and recovering the ball eight times. He looked so comfortable both defensively and when joining the attack. We were genuinely surprised to see him subbed off.

Midfielders

Hakan Çalhanoğlu - 9.0: The undisputed Man of the Match. He was simply on another level. He scored the crucial opening penalty with immense composure and ran the show from midfield. His 96% pass accuracy, four key passes, and defensive contributions tell the whole story. A true captain's performance that inspired his team to victory.

İsmail Yüksek - 7.0: A workhorse in the middle of the park. He was combative, winning his tackles and duels, although a couple of errors did lead to shots. He got a bit carried away and earned a late yellow card. Overall, his energy and defensive presence were vital for controlling the midfield.

Arda Güler - 7.0: The young star showed flashes of his incredible talent. He was tidy in possession and created a big chance for a teammate. His dribbling caused problems for the Bulgarian defence. Picked up a booking but was always looking to make things happen before being substituted late on.

Oğuz Aydın - 7.5: A very impressive display on the flank. He was a constant creative force, delivering three key passes and creating a big chance. He was unlucky to see one of his efforts hit the woodwork. His link-up play and willingness to take on his man were standout features of his game.

Kenan Yıldız - 8.0: What a player this kid is. He was an absolute menace, completing five dribbles and creating an astonishing five chances for his teammates. He won 10 out of his 12 duels, showing incredible strength and skill. The only thing missing was a goal, as he missed a big chance, but his performance was scintillating.

Forwards

Kerem Aktürkoğlu - 6.0: It was a deeply frustrating night for the forward. He got into great positions but his finishing let him down. He had seven shots in total, missing two big chances. While his movement was good, you just expect a player of his quality to be more clinical in front of goal.

Substitutes

Samet Akaydin - 6.5: Came on for Demiral at halftime and slotted in seamlessly. He was solid and made no mistakes, helping to see out the clean sheet.

Mert Müldür - 6.0: Replaced the excellent Kadıoğlu and had a decent cameo. He missed a headed chance from a corner but was otherwise solid.

Kaan Ayhan - N/A: Was on for about 20 minutes before an unfortunate injury forced him off. Not enough time to make a real impact.

Atakan Karazor - N/A: Came on late as an injury replacement for Ayhan and helped shore things up in the final minutes.

Yusuf Sari - N/A: A very brief appearance at the end, not enough time to warrant a rating.

Manager

V. Montella - 7.5: His team selection and tactics were spot on. Turkey looked organised, controlled, and always a threat. His side dominated possession and deserved the win. The substitutions were managed well, especially given the injury to Ayhan. A professional job from the Italian coach.

Bulgaria Player Ratings vs Turkey

Check out Bulgaria Player Ratings from the Turkey vs Bulgaria fixture:

Goalkeeper

Dimitar Mitov - 6.5: He couldn't do anything about the penalty or the own goal. Beyond that, he made five saves, including a couple of really sharp stops to keep the scoreline from getting worse. It was a busy night for him and he stood up to the challenge reasonably well, all things considered.

Defenders

Hristiyan Petrov - 5.0: A difficult evening for the defender. The penalty he conceded for handball in the first half was the defining moment of the game. It was a clumsy mistake that put his team on the back foot. He seemed to struggle with the pace of Turkey's attack after that moment.

Atanas Chernev - 4.5: A truly nightmarish game for him. He missed a golden opportunity from a corner early in the game that could have changed everything. To make matters worse, he scored the unfortunate own goal that killed any hope of a comeback. A performance he will want to forget immediately.

Kristian Dimitrov - 5.5: Seemed to be fighting a losing battle against Turkey's fluid attack. He committed three fouls and struggled in his duels. He made a few important clearances but was often stretched and looked a yard off the pace. It just wasn't his day.

Martin Georgiev - 5.5: He battled hard but was often overwhelmed. He made a crucial last-man tackle but also got dribbled past multiple times and picked up a yellow card. The effort was there, but the quality of the opposition was just too high for him to handle on the night.

Midfielders

Ilia Gruev - 6.0: A tidy but ultimately ineffective performance. He was neat on the ball and kept his passing simple, but he offered little in terms of creativity or defensive bite. He worked hard but was largely a passenger as Turkey's midfield dominated proceedings.

Georgi Rusev - 6.5: One of Bulgaria's few bright sparks in attack. He was so unlucky to see his brilliant long-range effort crash back off the crossbar. He looked to be the most likely to create something for his team but often found himself isolated and lost possession frequently.

Andrian Kraev - 6.0: He was a physical presence in midfield, winning an impressive number of aerial duels. However, he struggled to get a foothold in the game and was often bypassed by Turkey's quick passing. He put in a shift but couldn't influence the match.

Zdravko Dimitrov - 5.5: A very quiet game from the midfielder. He struggled to get involved, losing possession far too often and failing to make an impact in the final third. It was no surprise to see him substituted in the second half. A disappointing showing.

Filip Krastev - 7.0: From our perspective, he was Bulgaria's best player. He fought tirelessly in midfield, winning seven duels and making numerous tackles and interceptions. He showed real heart and determination in a losing cause. A commendable performance full of grit and desire.

Forwards

Kiril Despodov - 6.0: The captain was a peripheral figure for much of the match. He had one good shot saved but was otherwise kept quiet by the Turkish defence. He was caught offside and struggled to link up with his teammates before being substituted just after the hour mark.

Substitutes

Martin Minchev - 5.5: Came on for the captain but failed to provide any real spark or threat.

Marin Petkov - 6.0: Added a bit of energy but couldn't change the course of the game.

Ivaylo Chochev - 6.0: Brought on to add some fresh legs to the midfield battle but the game was already slipping away.

Vladimir Nikolov - N/A: Came on for the final few minutes with the game already decided.

Manager

N/A - 5.0: Bulgaria seemed to lack a clear game plan beyond trying to stay compact. They were reactive rather than proactive. The team struggled to create clear chances and was undone by individual errors. A tough night at the office where his side was second best in every department.

Sportsdunia’s Player of the Match goes to Hakan Calhanoglu