Bosnia-Herzegovina - Moldova - Euro 2008

League: Euro 2008 qualifiers
Event: Bosnia-Herzegovina - Moldova
Final score: 0-1

Match report from UEFA:

Moldova stun Bosnia-Herzegovina

Bosnia-Herzegovina's hopes of qualifying for their first major finals suffered a major setback with a home defeat by Moldova.

Bugaev winner
Igor Bugaev scored the only goal of the game midway through the first half and his team held on for their first UEFA European Championship away win since their very first match in the competition, in Georgia in September 1994. Bosnia-Herzegovina, already reeling from a 1-0 loss in Hungary on Saturday, are now four points adrift of second place in Group C with only three games left.

First-half goal
Moldova had the first chance after nine minutes but Bugaev's shot lacked the power to beat home goalkeeper Adnan Gušo. On 22 minutes, however, the breakthrough came: Bugaev turning in Alexandru Gatcan's pass from the right. That did not stop Moldova attacking and Gušo was forced to save an Alexandru Epureanu free-kick from distance, before defender Safet Nadarević got in the way of an Anatolie Doros effort. The home side finally registered an attempt on goal four minutes before the break, Dragan Blatnjak's shot prompting a fine save from Moldova keeper Nicolai Calancea. Gatcan almost made it 2-0 before half-time, while at the other end, Calancea frustrated Džemal Berberović.

Home side denied
Though Bosnia-Herzegovina pressed forward from the start of the second half, they were nearly caught out when Victor Comlenoc led a counterattack and hit the post. Now the hosts increased their efforts, with Zlatan Muslimović firing over and Edin Džeko going agonisingly close. Moldova's Calancea kept out a Džeko header and deep in injury time Berberović rattled the woodwork before being denied by the goalkeeper. Moldova remain bottom but will hope to put that right against Turkey or Malta in October, when Bosnia-Herzegovina face fellow contenders Greece and Norway.

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Euro 2008 Bosnia-Herzegovina - Hungary 1:3

Event: Euro 2008 qualifiers
National Teams: Bosnia-Herzegovina - Hungary
Final score: 1:3

Goal scorers:
Misimović 64
Huszti 36(pen)
Gera 46
Dárdai 49

News few days before at Uefagames:

Fuad Muzurović insists Bosnia-Herzegovina "have not abandoned hope" as they look to make up for defeat in Hungary on Saturday with a win at home against Moldova.

Major blow
A 1-0 loss in Szekesfehervar saw Bosnia-Herzegovina lose their first away game of the campaign and ended Muzurović's run of three UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers without defeat since his appointment in December. Now fourth in Group C with trips to Greece and Turkey to come, their chances of qualifying for the finals have been dealt a major blow; but for the coach, it is not a fatal one.

Hope undiminished
"After losing in Hungary, our chances of finishing second in the group have diminished," he said. "We have not abandoned hope though. We have four more matches but first we need to beat Moldova. Malta showed that there are no favourites anymore in beating Hungary and drawing against Turkey on Saturday. We have to be very cautious with Moldova.

Missed chances
"We didn't take our chances and the hosts took one of theirs," added the coach as he reflected on the Hungary game, in which both Vedad Ibišević and Zlatan Muslimović passed up good opportunities. "We made many mistakes in defence and the forwards didn't score." To make matters more difficult against Moldova, captain Zvjezdan Misimović and vice-captain Mirko Hrgović are both suspended.

Battling mentality
Muzurović has not called any more players into his squad, banking on the remaining 21 to do the business in Sarajevo against a side yet to win a game in the section. "We will aim to put together a strong squad for the next qualifiers [away against Greece and at home against Norway in October]. If we get a chance to get close to UEFA EURO 2008™, we will be sure to take it."