The Bosnia and Herzegovina national team was defeated, in front of more than 15,000 spectators at the “Bilino Polje” Stadium in Zenica, by the Austrian selection with a score of 2:1 (0:0), in the match of the 6th round of qualifying group H for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
After a cautious game in the first half, in which the best chance, in the 24th minute, was had by Philipp Leinhart, who sent the ball over Nikola Vasilj’s goal from about six meters in the middle of the goal, the second half started with two goals.
The Austrians took the lead 1:0 in the 49th minute through Marcel Sabitzer, who scored the goal from about 10 meters diagonally from the left after a weak shot by Nikola Katić. The shock at the packed Zenica stadium did not last long, because in the next, 50th minute, Edin Džeko escaped the control of the guests’ defense and sent Alexander Schlager into the net from about six meters for 1:1. He was assisted by Ermedin Demirović.
Bosnia and Herzegovina coach Sergej Barbarez was forced to put Jusuf Gazibegović into the game in the 58th minute, because Amar Dedić could not continue the match due to injury.
The physically fit guests threatened again in the 60th minute, but this time Sabitzer decided, instead of shooting from about 13 meters diagonally from the left, to throw the ball into the Bosnian team’s box, but none of his teammates were there.
In the 63rd minute, Džeko shot over the goal from about 15 meters, and in the 65th minute, the guests took the lead 2:1 through Laimer. This was the final result of this match, in which the Bosnian team team recorded its first defeat in these qualifiers, while Austria is undefeated after four matches played.
Due to a better goal difference, the BiH football players are still at the top of Group H, but now with the same number of points as second-placed Austria, who finished tonight’s match with a player less, because Patrick Wimmer received a second yellow card in stoppage time, an automatic red card.
In the second match in the group, Romania, after leading 2:0 in Cyprus, remained without a win, as the hosts managed to equalize at 2:2.
BiH: Vasilj – Memić (72. Alajbegović), Katic, Muharemović, Mujakić (87. Baždar)- Šunjić, Tahirović (72. Bašić), Gigović (72. Bajraktarević)- Dedić (58. Gazibegović), Džeko and Demirović. Coach: Sergej Barbarez.
Austria: A. Schlager – Seiwald, Limer, Mwene, X. Schlager (62. Grilitsch) – Baumgartner, Alaba (78. Danso), Schmid (Wimmer) – Lienhart, Sabitzer and Gregoritsch (62. Arnautović). Selector: Ralf Ragnick.
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain). Assistants Diego Barbero and Angelo Nevado (Spain).
Group H table: BiH 12, Austria 12 (-1), Romania 7, Cyprus 4 and San Marino 0 points, Federalna writes.
Photo: Federalna
