Brilliant Baljic helps Bosnia hit five
Elvir Baljic scored a brace as Bosnia finished off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein in Zenica.
Elvir Baljic scored a brace as Bosnia finished off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein in Zenica.
This was only Bosnia's second win during qualification, both of which have come against a poor Liechtenstein side.
Visiting coach Ralf Loose's players did not pose any serious threat tonight in Zenica’s Bilino polje stadium. Their failure to shoot on target coupled with a heavy defeat should not be a surprise to Liechtenstein fans.
Bosnia's first goalscoring chance came on seven minutes when Hasan Salihamidzic went close before Elvir Baljic whistled a 28 metre free kick just wide.
The hosts took the lead on 34 minutes when Mirsad Beslija shot from 16 metres out only to see Andreas Gerster clear off the line and put the ball out for a corner. Nermin Sabic delivered the ball for Coventry City defender Muhamed Konjic to outjump the Liechtenstein defence and send the ball past keeper Peter Jehle.
The second Bosnian goal came in the final moments of the first half. Dzelaludin Muharemovic tried to head home but Andreas Gerster stopped the ball with his hand on the line. It was his second yellow card and after his dismissal Real Madrid star Baljic converted the penalty to double the lead.
The second half opened with Baljic trying a 30 metre free-kick, but Jehle was equal to the task.
The first serious attack Liechtenstein mounted made came on the hour when Daniel Telser put Bosnia keeper Tomislav Piplica in jeoprady with a fast counter-attack, but Mirsad Hibic and Konjic quelled the danger.
Bosnia's third goal came as a result of a beautiful 70th-minute move. Dzelaludin Muharemovic and Sabic exchanged passes before the latter knocked the ball over two Liechtenstein defenders and fired past Jehle for a superb strike.
Baljic scored his second and Bosnia's fourth goal again from the penalty spot. After cutting in from the left into the Liechtenstein area he proved too quick for Frederic Gigon who could not do anything else but foul Baljic, who picked himself up to score from the spot.
Just two minutes, Man of the Match Baljic then set up Mario Dodig and from 15 metres out the Slaven Belupo striker comfortably scored Bosnia's fifth to celebrate a successful debut in a Bosnian shirt tonight in Zenica.