Bosnia-Herzegovina
made history in Kaunas, a nervy 1-0 win over Lithuania securing their ticket to
the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, which will be their first-ever appearance at a
major finals. Stuttgart striker Vedad Ibisevic was the man of the night,
scoring a 68th-minute goal in this decisive Group G qualifier. Since gaining
independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1992, the Bosnians have agonizingly
all too often tripped up at the last qualifying hurdle, as they did against
Portugal in the play-offs for South Africa 2010 and UEFA EURO 2012.
With Greece
taking a seventh-minute lead against Liechtenstein in Athens to assume the
Group G summit, the task facing the Safet Susic-coached side was at least clear
cut, a win now being essential to grab the automatic qualifying spot on goal
difference from the goal-shy Greeks. Desperate to avoid the play-offs Bosnia
emerged for the second half intent on finding a way past the in-form Arlauskas.
The Lithuanian player made his third save from a Miralem Pjanic free-kick
minutes after the restart, with Ermin Bicakcic volleying the rebound high. Then, with the clock ticking, Ibisevic finally
put Bosnia in World Cup heaven. Set up by Edin Dzeko from the left, the
29-year-old side-footed past Arlauskas to secure Bosnia top spot in Group G and
their long-awaited and fully deserved ticket to Brazil next year.
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