Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Republic of Ireland. European Championship Qualifying Qualifying Play-Offs.
Bilino Polje.
Saturday 14 November 2015 08:49, UK
Republic of Ireland's Euro 2016 qualification hopes were handed a significant boost after they earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first leg of their play-off tie.
Robbie Brady's 82nd-minute strike in dense fog looked to have handed the Irish a vital victory in Zenica, but Edin Dzeko's equaliser three minutes later ensured the sides would head into Monday's return leg all square.
Martin O'Neill's injury-hit side put in a valiant defensive display in the first half at the Bilino Polje Stadium to limit the Bosnian attack, before the severe fog limited both sides' attacking threat after the break.
The result leaves Ireland needing just a win or a goalless draw in Dublin on Monday to seal their place at next summer's European Championship in France.
Injuries and suspensions hampered O'Neill ahead of kick-off, with stalwarts such as John O'Shea, Jon Walters and Shay Given - primed for such a hostile and intense occasion - missing the game in Zenica.
Yet despite missing the experienced spine of their team, Ireland produced a solid defensive display in a first half, where Bosnia's star players failed to match the passion shown by their fans ahead of kick-off.
If anything, it was Ireland's carelessness in possession which handed the hosts their first opening, but Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic failed to draw Darren Randolph into action as he dragged a shot wide on 11 minutes.
Within three minutes the hosts had created and spurned their best chance of the half as the unmarked Ervin Zukanovic failed to head Pjanic's corner home from close range.
Stephen Ward, who has made just three appearances for club and country this season, began to be exposed in the left-back position by the bright Edin Visca.
Having got the better of the Burnley defender on 22 minutes, Visca's whipped cross was turned into the side-netting by Vedad Ibisevic, before Ward was booked for tugging back Visca.
Randolph was on hand to prevent Senad Lulic from rounding off a fine Bosnian counter on 32 minutes, before Lulic had claims for penalty - following an altercation with Seamus Coleman - denied by the referee.
Dense fog then descended on the stadium at half-time but, with both nations in agreement, the referee allowed the game to continue.
The conditions did little to inspire an insipid Bosnian display, with only the impressive Visca occasionally threatening and the Irish content at hitting the hosts on the break.
Ciaran Clark, drafted in for the suspended O'Shea, came closest to scoring for Bosnia when his block ricocheted the ball towards the Irish goal on 52 minutes, but Randolph was thankfully behind it.
Jeff Hendrick then should have done better to head Brady's cross on target shortly after as the game appeared destined for stalemate.
However, having latched onto to a hopeful ball up field, Brady's driven effort eight minutes from time beat Begovic at his near post to put the visitors on course for a priceless victory.
But their lead was to last just three minutes as Dzeko capitalised on Ireland's hesitancy in defence to convert substitute Ognjen Vranjes' cross from close range and set up a decider in Dublin on Monday night.
