A late header from Ventsislav Hristov meant Bulgaria began their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Azerbaijan.

Iliyan Mitsanski had given the visitors to the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium a first half lead before the hosts, who struggled to create opportunities in the opening period, levelled early in the second through Dimitrij Nazarov.

Bulgaria pressed for a winner and it finally came in the 86th minute through Hristov's effort.

With the home side ranked 73rd in the FIFA rankings and Bulgaria 72nd, a tight Group H encounter was expected at the Bakcell Arena and so it proved in a match where shots on target were few and far between.

Azerbaijan had the first opportunity of the game after 13 minutes but from 12 yards out Rauf Aliyev headed over the bar and Berti Vogts' side were made to rue that missed chance when, less than 60 seconds later, the visitors took the lead.

Georgi Iliev's pass from the left found Mitsanski in the box and the striker, who plays his club football in Germany for Karlsruhe, slotted home to register his third international strike.

Vogts replaced midfielder Araz Abdullayev with striker Vagif Javadov after the restart in a bid to improve their fortunes going forward and the move paid off as the hosts drew level after 53 minutes thanks to Nazarov's 20-yard strike.

The equaliser woke Bulgaria with both Iliev and Vladimir Gadzhev going close.

Despite their dominance of possession, the visitors were not testing home keeper Kamran Agayev, but that all changed with four minutes to go when Hristov headed home Todor Nedelev's cross.