Bosnia-Herzegovina were able to overcome a spirited Qatar outfit in Toronto to earn a 3-1 victory and almost definitely secure a route through to the Round of 32.
A stunning goal from Kerim Alajbegovic sent Zmajevi on their way before an own goal made it 2-0.
Qatar looked like springing a comeback for some time, particularly after Hassan Al Haydos pulled one back, but Ermin Mahmic arrived from the bench to secure the victory.
Within two minutes, Ermedin Demirovic forced a strong save from Mahmud Abunada with an effort from outside the box. He was called into action again minutes later, making an acrobatic stop to deny Ivan Sunjic.
Then the breakthrough came in spectacular fashion. Kerim Alajbegovic announced himself on the world stage by opening the scoring a simply stunning goal. The 18 year old was fed the ball and beat a couple of challenges before unleashing an unstoppable right-footed strike past Mahmoud Abunada from around 22 yards out.
While the great young hope of Bosnian football opened the scoring, it was the grand old man who helped make it two. Edin Dzeko met a deep cross on the volley and his low attempted cross was deflected beyond Abunada by Sultan Al Brake.
The Schalke man almost had a goal to call his own as he broke free of the defence a few moments later but the post denied him a 74th international goal. His left-footed shoot rebounded back off the woodwork before being cleared away.
Just as it started to look like everything might be going Bosnia-Herzegovina’s way, Qatar found a way back into the game. Edmilson met a deep cross to slide the ball back across the six yard box where skipper Hassan Al Haydos was on hand to apply the finish. With their first two touches in the opposition box, the Maroons had hauled themselves back into the contest.
The AFC nation had a fine chance to draw level in injury-time of the first half too, when Akram Afif slipped a pass into the path of Pedro Miguel who crashed his right-footed shot against the far post.
Qatar continued to push for the equaliser after the break and Afif came close not long after the half-time whistle, blasting a left-footed shot into the side-netting when he at least should’ve tested the goalkeeper.
Eventually though, Bosnia-Herzegovina were able to all but secure the three points on the 79 minute mark. After a scramble in the box the ball broke loose to substitute Ermin Mahmic. His shot was right at Abunada but the Qatari keeper couldn’t keep it out and Bosnia looked set for the second round.
- Full Time
- D. Burnić on for K. Alajbegović82'
- E. Mahmić82'
- E. Mahmić80'
- 79'Mohammad Manai on for Ahmed Fathy
- 79'Ahmed Alaa on for Edmílson Junior
- 78'Ahmed Fathy
- 72'Almoez Ali on for Karim Boudiaf
- E. Mahmić on for E. Džeko64'
- D. Hadžikadunić on for N. Katić63'
- 56'Ahmed Al Ganehi on for Hassan Al Haydos
- 46'Abdulaziz Hatem on for Jassem Gaber
- A. Memić on for A. Malić46'
- B. Tahirović on for I. Šunjić46'
- Half Time
- 42'Hassan Al Haydos
- Mahmud Abunada (OG)34'
- K. Alajbegović29'
- Kick Off
-
1
Kerim Alajbegovic1 - 2Ermin Mahmic1
- 3
Hassan Al Haydos1
- 1Ivan Basic4
- 2Pedro Miguel3
- 3Esmir Bajraktarevic2
- 1Pedro Miguel2
- 2Benjamin Tahirovic2
- 3Dennis Hadzikadunic2
- 1Ivan Basic1
- 2Edmílson Junior1
- 3Dennis Hadzikadunic1
- 1Esmir Bajraktarevic2
- 2Kerim Alajbegovic2
- 3Edmílson Junior2
- 1Stjepan Radeljic81
- 2Ivan Basic66
- 3Nikola Katic62
- 1Kerim Alajbegovic6
- 2Ahmed Al Ganehi1
- 3Ivan Basic1
- 1Sultan Al Brake2
- 2Ahmed Fathy1
- 3Esmir Bajraktarevic1
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