Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Qatar 3-1 in their final World Cup Group B match on Wednesday to move closer to a first knockout-stage appearance.
The win moved Bosnia-Herzegovina to four points. The team is now in a strong position to qualify as one of the best eight third-placed sides for the last 32.
Kerim Alajbegovic, Bosnia’s youngest World Cup player at 18, opened the scoring with a long-range strike after beating two defenders. Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada later conceded an own goal after Edin Dzeko’s deflected shot.
Qatar responded before half-time through Hassan al-Haydos. The 35-year-old, Qatar’s most capped player, scored in the 42nd minute after Bosnia’s early pressure faded in the heat.
Bosnia had started strongly, with Abunada denying Ermedin Demirovic and Ivan Sunjic inside the first four minutes. Dzeko, making his 150th appearance, also struck the post before Qatar’s goal.
Qatar nearly levelled in first-half stoppage time when Pedro Miguel hit the far post. Al-Haydos later left the pitch injured in the 55th minute.
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Ermin Mahmic sealed the result in the 80th minute with his second goal in as many matches. Qatar exited at the group stage, as they did in 2022.
