Bulgaria goalkeeper Dimitar Ivankov is facing six weeks on the sidelines after breaking a bone in his leg during last night's 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualifier in Cyprus.

The 33-year-old Bursaspor stopper was immediately taken to hospital after being carried off on a stretcher following a second-half collision with Michalis Constantinou.

Bulgaria's slim hopes of reaching the play-offs were ended by last night's 4-1 European Zone Group 8 defeat in Larnaca.

Nikolay Mihaylov, who came off the bench to replace Ivankov with his team already 3-1 down, looks set to start Wednesday's final qualifier against Georgia in Sofia.