REACTION: Robben blasts Netherlands nightmare | Blind accepts blame for defeat

Netherlands' hopes of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup were dealt a severe blow by a 2-0 defeat to Bulgaria as Matthijs de Ligt endured a debut to forget in Sofia.

At just 17 years of age, the highly-rated Ajax central defender was the youngest player to turn out for Oranje since 1931, but it was a painful introduction to international football for a man who had made just 14 senior appearances prior to Sunday's (AEDT) meeting, which marked the halfway point on the road to Russia. 

In the build-up to this Group A clash, under-fire Netherlands coach Danny Blind conceded that De Ligt had only been called upon owing to injuries to regular choices Virgil van Dijk, Jeffrey Bruma and Stefan de Vrij.

De Ligt was culpable for Bulgaria's fifth-minute opener, his failure to deal with a long ball capitalised on by Spas Delev for his first Bulgaria goal.

Delev doubled his and Bulgaria's tally with a fine finish before the midway point of the first half, at the end of which De Ligt was replaced by Wesley Hoedt.

Despite an improved post-interval performance, Netherlands could not conjure a way back into the contest and after its failure to qualify for UEFA Euro 2016, its hopes of reaching Russia next year seem slim with Blind's side now fourth in the group, three points adrift of second-placed Sweden and six behind leader France.