Bosnia and Herzegovina kept their hopes of reaching the FIFA World Cup knockout stage alive with a 3-1 win over Qatar in their final Group B match.
The result left Bosnia level on four points with co-hosts Canada, but they finished third on head-to-head record and must wait to see if they advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
Bosnia started strongly in Seattle, with Ermedin Demirovic and Ivan Sunjic both testing Qatar goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada early on. They took the lead in the 29th minute when 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic beat two defenders and fired in from distance.
Six minutes later, captain Edin Dzeko helped double the advantage when his volley deflected off Sultan Al Brake and into the net for an own goal. Qatar pulled one back before halftime through Hassan Al-Haydos, who bundled home a cross from Edmilson Junior.
Qatar pushed for an equaliser after the break, with Akram Afif causing problems, but Bosnia stayed organised and sealed the win in the 80th minute through substitute Ermin Mahmic.
It was only Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second World Cup victory, after beating Iran 3-1 in 2014. Qatar finished bottom of Group B with one point.
