The Reds faced taking just a 1-0 deficit back to Windsor Park in Belfast for the second leg after Pavel Vidanov's ninth minute opener.

But Marcos Marquinhos made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute and Rumen Trifonov netted the third two minutes later before Stephen Garrett was sent-off for a second bookable offence with six minutes remaining.

Vidanov got Sofia off and running when Cliftonville failed to clear a corner and the Bulgaria international made no mistake in scoring from close range.

Cliftonville then survived a host of Sofia chances as Eddie Patterson's side clung on in their attempt to continue their European fairytale.

But Marquinhos capped a neat move to double Sofia's advantage before Trifonov ended the game as a contest ahead of the second leg on August 5.

Eurosport