Bosnia defeats Qatar to secure vital group stage victory
Bosnia and Herzegovina kept their knockout dreams alive by eliminating Qatar with a decisive victory in Seattle. This high-stakes Group B encounter saw the European side dictate the tempo early on, breaking the deadlock when 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic curled a stunning strike into the top corner.
History was made with that goal, as Alajbegovic became the youngest player to score from outside the box since 1966, breaking Kylian Mbappe's record from 2018. Shortly after, pressure from veteran striker Edin Dzeko forced an own goal from Qatar's Sultan Al-Brake, doubling the lead.
Qatar fought back before halftime when Hassan Al-Haydos pounced on a loose ball to score. The tournament hosts almost equalized when Pedro Miguel hit the woodwork after the break.
Odisha soccer fans watching late-night broadcasts saw Bosnia weather the storm before substitute Ermin Mahmic sealed the result in the 80th minute. Securing third place with four points behind Switzerland and Canada puts Bosnia in an excellent position to reach the Round of 32.
Image Courtesy: ANI
