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Euro 2016 playoffs: Late Dzeko goal saves Bosnia

November 14, 2015 09:38 IST

Edin Dzeko

IMAGE: Bosnia's Edin Dzeko in action. Photograph: Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images

A late goal by striker Edin Dzeko rescued a 1-1 draw for Bosnia after the first leg of their Euro 2016 playoff with Ireland was hampered by poor visibility on Friday.

The Irish took an 82nd-minute lead through midfielder Robbie Brady, after thick fog had descended on the Bilino Polje stadium, before Dzeko replied with a neat finish.

The players were barely visible throughout the second half of a disjointed match during which the home side had the upper hand but fell behind against the run of play.

"It was difficult to relay instructions to the players in the second half because we could barely see anything at all from the dugout," Bosnia coach Mehmed Bazdarevic told BHT television.

"We are a bit disappointed with the result but I have to admit that we didn't play well, perhaps because we weren't composed enough.

Ireland defender Ciaran Clark told Sky Sports: "It was a good night's work, as a team, it was a good performance.

"We'll concentrate and try to get fit for (the return leg on) Monday night. It's going to be a tough game, we've got the away goal but we've got to go out there as if it's 0-0 again."

The game was played under tight security, amid fears of crowd trouble with several hundred Irish fans in the stadium, but it was an incident-free playoff after the home supporters had applauded the visiting team's national anthem.

Source: REUTERS
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