Medunjanin and Maletic help Bosnia beat Albania
Reuters - Tuesday 07 June 2011, 20:43
ZENICA - Second-half goals from
midfielders Haris Medunjanin and Darko Maletic gave Bosnia a 2-0
home win over Albania in a scrappy Euro 2012 Group D qualifier
on Tuesday.
The result lifted Bosnia two places up to third with 10
points from six matches, two behind second-placed Belarus who
have played a game more after beating Luxembourg 2-0.
Leaders France have 13 points from six matches, while
Albania, who have eight points from six games, dropped one place
down to fifth behind Romania on goal difference.
The Bosnians enjoyed much of the possession in the first
half but failed to create any clear-cut chances against a packed
Albanian defence.
Lively playmaker Zvjezdan Misimovic had several long-range
efforts blocked while central defender Emir Spahic glanced a
header across the face of goal.
The home side pressed forward after the interval and
Misimovic had keeper Samir Ujkani at full stretch while striker
Edin Dzeko, who had a quiet game, headed wide from close range
before Medunjanin finally broke the deadlock on 67 minutes.
Defensive midfielder Boris Pandza floated a long ball down
the middle and Medunjanin took it in his stride superbly to
steer it into the bottom left corner.
Albania's second-half substitute Andi Lila was sent off in
the 87th minute for a reckless tackle on Elvir Rahimic and the
visitors were soon punished after they were caught out on the
break.
Wing-back Maletic raced clear from his markers after a
delightful through ball and beat Ujkani with a crisp low shot
from just inside the penalty box in added-time.