Bosnia 1 - Ireland 1: Edin Dzeko breaks Irish hearts to leave play-off finely posied

Robbie Brady celebrates giving Republic of Ireland the lead against Bosnia in the Euro 2016 play-off

EDIN DZEKO broke Republic of Ireland hearts with a late equaliser that kept this Euro 2016 play-off in the balance.

 

The former Manchester City striker scored five minutes from time in foggy Zenica after Robbie Brady’s goal looked to have given the Irish an unlikely first-leg victory.

Norwich winger Brady burst down the right, cut inside, and beat Asmir Begovic at his near post to send the travelling Irish fans wild.

But the lead lasted just three minutes as Dzeko converted substitute Ognjen Vranjes’ low cross from close range.

Now it’s all to play for in the second leg at the Aviva Stadium on Monday.

Martin O’Neill’s men, weakened through injuries and suspensions, would probably have taken the draw last night, and they certainly had to be at their dogged defensive best to keep out the Bosnians, who bossed the majority of the game.

The pattern was quickly set when Ciaran Clark headed clear from Vedad Ibisevic.

 

Edin Dzeko equalised for Bosnia to keep up his fine goalscoring form

Then he was forced into a hurried clearance by skipper Glenn Whelan’s ill-judged back-pass after Brady had dispossessed the dangerous Edin Viscat.

Richard Keogh shut Dzeko out after Miralem Pjanic slid the ball into the striker’s path but the Republic escaped three minutes later when Miralem

Pjanic’s corner reached the unmarked Ervin Zukanovic whose header was tame and wide.

Ibisevic failed to connect with an ambitious overhead attempt before steering Visca’s inviting ball into the side-netting.

Seamus Coleman made a vital interception to cut out Dzeko’s driven cross but could only serve up the ball for Visca, who dragged his follow-up wide.

Visca then crossed and although Keogh got his head to the ball, Zukanovic headed the rebound into Darren Randolph’s arms.

For all they were under the cosh, O’Neill’s men were dogged in defence and James McCarthy cut out Senad Lulic’s cross.

Bosnia stayed on top after the restart with fog slowly enveloping the ground but Clark again came to the rescue when he slid in to prevent Dzeko connecting with Visca’s cross.

Brady shocked the home crowd with his fine individual effort but Dzeko had the last wordto leave the play-off on a knife edge.