Bosnia-Herzegovina kept their hopes of progressing into the World Cup knockouts for the first time in their history as one of the best third-place finishers alive after beating Qatar 3-1 in Washington.
Bosnia, who earned their first World Cup win in 12 years, finished level on points with second-place Canada but were forced to settle for third place as a result of the head-to-head rules. They will now keep a keen eye on developments elsewhere to ensure their last 32 spot is secured, where they could play either Germany or the USA while Qatar are knocked out.
Kerim Alajbegovic opened the scoring with a stunner from range before Edin Dzeko’s volley took a nick off Sultan Al Brake and was hurtling towards his own goal. Abunada, the Qatar goalkeeper, has been credited with the own goal.
Qatar hit back through Hassan Al Haidos, out of nowhere as momentum began to swing. Qatar hit the post soon after but that proved to be the closest they’d get to an equalising goal.
After the break, Ermin Mahmic, who scored off the bench during Bosnia’s 4-1 defeat to Switzerland, climbed on to seal Bosnia’s second-ever World Cup victory.
The key moments from Washington…
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4: BOSNIA PRESSURE! Qatar ‘keeper Abunada has been tested twice in quick succession; he comes out on top to deny Demirovic on both occasions.
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30: GOAL! Alajbegovic, Bosnia’s youngest-ever player at a World Cup, picks his spot from over 25 yards out and sends a rocket past Abunada.
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35: GOAL! IT’S TWO GOALS IN FIVE MINUTES FOR BOSNIA! Al Brake turns the ball past his own goalkeeper to follow up from that super strike from Alajbegovic just moments prior.
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39:OFF THE POST! Qatar are wilting. Dzeko has the freedom of Washington as he strikes onto the upright!
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43: GOAL! QATAR PULL ONE BACK! Al Haidos taps home to halve the deficit out of nothing.
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45+3: OFF THE POST! Qatar, this time, hit the post. Miguel, set up by Afif, watches his low strike knock the foot of the upright after some brilliant Qatar interplay.
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81: GOAL! Mahmic seals victory for Bosnia off the bench.
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