Edin Džeko demolishes the Irish at Grbavica

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Edin Džeko was once again the hero of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our national team defeated Northern Ireland in the Nations League 2-0 at a packed Grbavica stadium, and our team's captain scored both goals, bringing Bosnia and Herzegovina its third victory in this competition, in as many matches played. With tonight's goals, Džeko scored his 55th goal in the national team jersey. The Dragons are now leaders in the standings with nine points, ahead of Austria with three and Northern Ireland with no points.

Coach Robert Prosinečki made only one change to the lineup compared to the last Nations League match. Ognjen Vranješ played at right-back instead of Darko Todorović.

The guests had their first chance in the second minute. George Saville shot from the left side, but the ball went over Ibrahim Šehić's goal. After that, there were no excitements until the 10th minute, when Haris Duljević found Edin Višća well on the far post, but the Basaksehir player didn't handle it perfectly and the ball went wide. Northern Ireland had another good chance in the 15th minute. They easily broke through our left flank, Steven Davis crossed, and Saville was alone in front of Šehić, but he mishit the ball and it went wide of our goal. Just two minutes later, Miralem Pjanić brilliantly got rid of his markers and sent the ball towards Edin Džeko, who controlled it with his chest but shot over the goal.

Luck favoured our team in the 20th minute. Davis shot on the volley, Šehić was beaten, but the ball hit the post.

The Dragons took the lead in the 27th minute. Haris Duljević fought for a ball. Jamal Lewis slipped, the ball came to Edin Višća, who assisted Edin Džeko, and the Dragons' captain masterfully hit the net of Bailey Peacock-Farrell for 1-0.

Just a minute later, Džeko scored another goal. Pjanić brilliantly assisted from a free kick to our captain, who hit the Northern Ireland net. The referee made a big mistake, and with the assistance of the linesman who signalled offside, which did not exist, disallowed our goal, so the scoreboard remained 0-0.

Miralem Pjanić shot excellently in the 34th minute from a free kick, which Elvis Sarić won, but the ball went over the goal. Before the end of the first half, we saw two good chances. Northern Ireland had a chance in the 41st minute when Stuart Dallas shot while falling, but Šehić saved his attempt. Just three minutes later, Ognjen Vranješ shot from about 25 meters, but our defender was unlucky and the ball went wide.

Edin Džeko started the second half with a great chance. It was the 55th minute when our captain went alone against the Northern Ireland goalkeeper, but he played with it, and Peacock-Farrell saved his shot. The ball rebounded to Elvis Sarić, who shot well, but the Northern Ireland goalkeeper was up to the task.

That luck is a friend of the Dragons in the Nations League was evident in the 65th minute. Our defense was playing around, Northern Ireland players got the ball, which reached substitute Michael Whyte, who was three meters from our goal, and when everyone saw the ball in the net, he hit the post.

Although the guests had dominance in the second half, our team was the first to score again. Miralem Pjanić sent a through ball to Edin Džeko, who received it brilliantly in the Northern Ireland penalty area and scored for 2-0. After the goal, the Diamond received ovations at Grbavica, the stadium where his football career began.

Four minutes later, another masterful pass from Miralem Pjanić. This time he found Višća in the penalty area, but his shot was blocked and the ball ended up in a corner. In the 83rd minute, Pjanić masterfully got rid of a Northern Ireland player and shot, but the ball went over the goal.

Why he is the first goalkeeper of our national team, Ibrahim Šehić, demonstrated in the 86th minute. First, with a masterful save, he stopped Saville's attempt, and immediately in the next attack, he caught the ball after Vessell's attempt.

Until the end of the match, the guests hit the post once more, but there were no changes to the score. BiH achieved its third victory in as many matches played in the Nations League. Coach Robert Prosinečki continued his undefeated streak on the Dragons' bench, which now stands at nine games.

(sportske.ba/Nap)