The national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina failed to hold on until the very end, as Canada eventually secured a gold-worthy point through Kyle Larin in the 79th minute, after the Dragons had taken the lead thanks to Jovo Lukić’s goal in the 21st minute of the match.
Sergej Barbarez’s side arrived at this World Cup as underdogs, but ever since the match against Italy in Zenica, it was clear that Edin Džeko and company had something to offer the global football audience. And so it proved… Bosnia and Herzegovina will not be just another participant at this World Cup, as the 90 minutes against Canada showed that the battle for qualification will remain extremely tense until the very end of the group stage.
After just 180 seconds, the Dragons managed to create a chance, as the ball bounced to Memić, but he fired well wide from a decent position. Only two minutes later, Demirović also tried his luck, though he was in an unfavorable position to seriously threaten Canada’s goalkeeper.
Memić was once again one of the driving forces behind a Bosnia and Herzegovina counterattack, but he was illegally stopped by Johnston, who received a yellow card as early as the 11th minute. Jonathan David then had an opportunity following a mistake by Bašić, but Nikola Vasilj produced an excellent save.
Everything came to a standstill in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 21st minute — Kolašinac delivered a cross, Bašić redirected the ball from the near post to Jovo Lukić, and the Šabac-born striker managed to find the back of the net and score his first goal in the national team jersey, and in what a match… Canada became more dangerous afterward, but Barbarez’s men held firm and went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
The second half produced an incredible spectacle in the opening 15 minutes. Vasilj made two important saves and rose to the occasion, before Lary found himself alone, shot, and beat Vasilj. However, Sead Kolašinac was positioned on the goal line and intervened brilliantly, with the crossbar helping him as well. Just 60 seconds later at the other end, Demirović had a clear-cut chance after a pass from Muharemović, but produced a dreadful finish.
After an hour of play, Canada captain Eustáquio attempted a long-range effort, but his shot flew well wide of the Bosnia and Herzegovina goal. Just six minutes later, Katić cleared the ball off the line in the style of Kolašinac and once again rescued the Dragons.
The match was somewhat calmer until the final ten minutes. Larin entered the game in the 76th minute and only 180 seconds later managed to beat Nikola Vasilj. It initially appeared that he was in an offside position, but the replay showed that Kolašinac was the closest defender to the Dragons’ goalkeeper.
There were no further chances that could alter the outcome, so Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada shared the points in their opening World Cup match.
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Source: Telegraf.rs, Foto: Mert Alper Dervis / AFP / Profimedia