Bosnia-Herzegovina look set to play in the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time as they knocked out Qatar with a 3-1 win in Seattle.
Wednesday’s Group B finale was do-or-die for both teams, who each headed into the game with just a single point, with only victory sufficient for Qatar and a draw unlikely to be enough for Bosnia to progress as one of the eight best third-place finishers.
Bosnia were the better team for most of the first half and a goal of the tournament contender from Kerim Alajbegovic, followed by a Sultan Al-Brake own goal, seemingly had Sergej Barbarez’s side in control.
But Hassan Al-Haydos pulled one back for Qatar and the contest was in the balance until the 80th minute, when Emin Mahmic made the points safe for Bosnia.
While their qualification is not confirmed, four points should be enough for Bosnia, who as it stands will face co-hosts United States in the San Francisco Bay Area on July 2. For Qatar, a tournament that saw them claim their first World Cup point is over.
Bosnia set for knockouts
Ermedin Demirovic and Ivan Sunjic both tested Mahmoud Abunada early, but the Qatar goalkeeper had no answer for the brilliance Alajbegovic produced to break the deadlock.
The 18-year-old jinked past two defenders before letting fly with a swerving off-balance effort from just outside the area that had both the pace and the direction to leave the keeper with no chance.
Five minutes later it was 2-0 as Al-Brake deflected Edin Dzeko’s attempted lay-off from a deep cross beyond the helpless Abunada.
Dzeko should to have put the game to beyond doubt when he surged through the heart of a suspect Qatar defence, only to see his effort cannon off the post.
The 40-year-old’s profligacy was punished as Qatar captain Al-Haydos halved the deficit by slotting home from Edmilson Junior’s pull back.
Qatar would have equalised had the woodwork not come to Bosnia’s rescue, Pedro Miguel denied by the left-hand post as the 2022 hosts finished the first half the stronger.
Demirovic was guilty of being caught in two minds when he raced on to a clever ball over the top, the forward seemingly unsure whether to go for goal or flick on to Dzeko. Ultimately, his indecisive header drifted wide.
Qatar continued to carry a threat and Akram Afif lashed into the side-netting but, after Esmir Bajraktarevic had forced a smart save from Abunada, Mahmic settled the game.
The Slovan Liberec forward pounced on Qatar’s inability to clear their lines as his close-range effort snuck in despite Abunada getting a hand to a strike that was almost straight at him. The questionable goalkeeping ensured that only an unexpected turn of events in the remaining group games will deny Bosnia an historic first knockout appearance.
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