Izet Hajrovic’s first-half goal gave Bosnia and Herzegovina a deserved 1-0 win over Mexico in a friendly between the two FIFA World Cup-bound sides at Soldier Field in Chicago on Tuesday, ending El Tri’s eight-game unbeaten run.
Bosnia dominated the first half in Illinois and could easily have gone to the break with a bigger advantage but in the end had goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to thank for two great saves that denied Mexico the equalizer.
El Tri coach Miguel Herrera’s lineup experiment did not seem to pay off, with his team’s performance likely to have disappointed an overwhelmingly pro-Mexico capacity crowd of 60,707.
Photo: Reuters
Edin Dzeko, whose two goals gave Bosnia a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast on Saturday, was a menace to the Mexico defense from the outset and went close to scoring three times in the opening eight minutes.
After forcing Alfredo Talavera into a save with a low shot in the fourth minute, Dzeko twice fired just over the bar as Bosnia’s midfield, led by the classy Miralem Pjanic, took control.
Mexico’s first real chance came in the 24th minute when Javier Hernandez, given a start in attack, latched on to a fine ball from Miguel Layun and struck the outside of the post with a low shot.
Photo: AFP
However, Bosnia’s deserved lead came four minutes before the break, when Sejad Salihovic whipped in a ball from the byline and Hajrovic met it with a confident first-time strike.
A series of substitutions disrupted the second half, but Mexico began to pile on the pressure in the closing minutes as they sought to defend Herrera’s unbeaten record.
Francisco Rodriguez’s glancing header from an inswinging free-kick forced a great save out of Begovic and the Bosnia goalkeeper was at full stretch again moments later to push a fierce Miguel Ponce long-range effort around the post.
Mexico, who face hosts Brazil, Cameroon and Croatia in World Cup Group A, will wrap up their preparations with a friendly against Portugal in Foxborough, Massachusetts, tomorrow.
Bosnia, who are featuring in their first World Cup as an independent nation, will now head to Brazil, where they are drawn in Group F with Argentina, Iran and Nigeria.
“This is good for our confidence to beat Ivory Coast and then to beat Mexico in front of their great fans,” Manchester City striker Dzeko told ESPN. “We are prepared well for the World Cup. This is an amazing thing for our team and our small country, we have waited over 20 years for this and we want to do our best to make the second round — and then we will see.”
Brazil face Croatia in the opening match of the tournament in Sao Paulo on Thursday next week with the final taking place in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just