Bosnia & Herzegovina 0
Rep. of Ireland 0
Stephen Doyle in Zenica
Robbie Brady was almost the hero with a second-half goal in a bizarre match which was barely visible in the second-half but Edin Dzeko ensured a draw with a late tap-in.
Air pollution in these parts has hit very high levels and the resulting smog enveloped the Bilino Polje Stadium after the restart, killing the game as well as most of the punters probably!
After a nice relaxed opening with the sides feeling each other out, the home side just set pulses racing with the first chance of the game in the 11th minute.
Full back Mensur Mujdza got to the bye line and took advantage of a slip by his marker Brady before finding dangerman Miralem Pjanic at the edge of the box and he fired one just over.
Bosnia and Herzegovina had obviously taken pointers from Gibraltar’s tactics board that was found in the bowels of the Aviva Stadium with a red circle pointing to perceived weak link Stephen Ward.
The home side continued to attack the same side with Edin Visca’s corner almost converted by Vedad Ibisevic but he stroked it just wide at the near post.
Moments later Edin Dzeko put a really dangerous ball into the box but Ciaran Clark made the first of several clearances to ease the pressure.
All the while Ireland tried their luck with a few long balls to Daryl Murphy which never seemed to stick and ball player Wes Hoolahan was having a bad night by his own standards.
Just after the teams emerged from the dressing rooms following their half-time break, the smog dropped onto the pitch turning the game into a farce but visiting boss Martin O’Neill wasn’t complaining.
He wasn’t happy to see Visca turn the Irish defence twice soon after and put in two dangerous balls which were dealt with by Darren Randolph and Clark again.
The visitors had a chance themselves just moments later when a cross from the left was met by the head of Jeff Hendrick but put just over.
The game descended into farce but then a moment of magic from Ireland's young gun, Brady who picked up a Randolph ball that the defence failed to deal with on the edge of the box.
The winger then picked his spot before firing the ball inside the post, as tight as you like, after 82 minutes.
The lead only lasted 3 minutes when a nothing ball at the other end fooled the Irish defence and Dzeko was there to coolly slot it home.
Disappointing for O'Neill's men but they would have taken a draw and an away goal if it had been offered to them before kick-off.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Begovic, Cocalic, Spahic, Ibisevic, Pjanic, Dzeko, Mujdza (Vranjes 51), Sunjic, Lulic, Zukanovic, Visca (Djuric 73). Substitutes: Sehic, Buric, Bicakcic, Kolasinac, Hidzic, Medunjanin, Susic, Hajrovic, Hadzic, Salihovic.
Rep. of Ireland: Randolph, Coleman, Keogh, Clark, Ward, Whelan, Hendrick, Hoolahan, Brady, Murphy. Substitutes: Forde, Henderson, Wilson, Pearce, McGeady, Keane, McClean, Judge, Doyle, Christie, Gibson, Arter.
