Bosnia-Herzegovina secured a 3-1 victory against Qatar in their final Group B fixture, enhancing their prospects of advancing to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time. The win saw them finish level on points with Canada, the co-hosts, but they ultimately placed third in the group due to goal difference. This means Bosnia-Herzegovina did not automatically qualify for the last 32 but could still progress as one of the best eight third-placed teams in the tournament.
The match, played in Seattle, saw Bosnia-Herzegovina start with considerable intent despite temperatures reaching 29C. Early in the game, Ermedin Demirovic and Ivan Sunjic tested Qatar goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada with shots from distance within the first three minutes. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, Bosnia’s youngest-ever player at a World Cup, bypassed two defenders before unleashing a powerful right-footed strike past Abunada from range.
Bosnia-Herzegovina extended their lead just six minutes later. Their 40-year-old captain Edin Dzeko, making his 150th appearance for the country, played a crucial role in the second goal. His volleyed effort deflected off defender Sultan Al Brake and found its way into the net, with Abunada being credited with an unfortunate own goal. Dzeko, who holds the record for most goals and appearances for Bosnia, nearly added a third goal four minutes later, but his low shot struck the post.
Qatar, however, managed to create opportunities. Captain Hassan Al-Haydos gave his side hope by converting a cross from Edmilson Jr, halving the deficit three minutes before half-time. The Asian champions concluded the first half strongly, with Pedro Miguel also hitting the post after being set up by Akram Afif. Afif himself brushed the side-netting early in the second half, as Qatar continued to pose a threat on counter-attacks, though they lacked a decisive finish, even after bringing on prolific scorer Almoez Ali for the final 20 minutes.
Bosnia-Herzegovina maintained a solid defensive performance and sealed their victory in the 80th minute. Substitute Ermin Mahmic scored for the second consecutive game, slotting the ball past Abunada after latching onto a loose ball following a scramble in the Qatar box. This marked only Bosnia’s second World Cup win, with their previous victory being a 3-1 result against Iran in their debut campaign in 2014.
Head coach Sergej Barbarez expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating it was a “perfect match.” He also highlighted the potential of the young players, suggesting that the current national team is just beginning and that the next World Cup could be their true moment. Qatar’s head coach, Julen Lopetegui, acknowledged his team’s efforts, noting that they did many things well but football did not reward them on the day. He expressed hope that this would not be Qatar’s last World Cup match.
While Bosnia-Herzegovina’s four-point tally is expected to be sufficient for a place in the next round, they must await the results of other matches to confirm their progression. Qatar concluded the group stage at the bottom of Group B with one point.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
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As News-GB's Sports Reporter, Megan Sinclair reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name interviewing rising British talent. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Edinburgh and completed an NCTJ diploma. Megan lives in Edinburgh, where she plays club tennis and follows track athletics. “Give the athletes room and the story tells itself.”