Bosnia-Herzegovina boost chances of advancing, eliminate Qatar 

SEATTLE (AP):

Bosnia-Herzegovina eliminated Qatar and boosted their chances of advancing at the World Cup with a 3-1 victory in a Group B match yesterday.

With the victory, the third-place finishing Bosnia-Herzegovina are more than likely to advance to the Round of 32 in the expanded field. The eight best third-place finishers across the 12 groups advance.

Should Bosnia-Herzegovina advance to the knockout round, it would mark the first time in national team history at the World Cup. Bosnia-Herzegovina have played in only one other World Cup — 2014 in Brazil.

Kerim Alajbegovic scored in the 29th minute to give Bosnia-Herzegovina a lead they would never relinquish. The 18-year-old Alajbegovic became the eighth-youngest scorer in World Cup history when he powered a shot past Qatar goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada at the near post from 20 yards away.

Bosnia-Herzegovina tacked on a second goal in the 34th minute when Sead Kolasinac launched a cross to the back post. A volley to the middle by Edin Dzeko deflected off Qatar's Sultan Al-Brake for an own goal.

Hassan Al Haydos kept Qatar, who did not win a game in the tournament, competitive with a goal in the 42nd minute. But in the second half, Bosnia-Herzegovina once again went up by two goals when Ermin Mahmic, who scored in a 4-1 loss to Switzerland, tallied another in the 80th minute.