CROATIA swept to a convincing victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Bologna, Italy, last night, in an historic World Cup qualifier between the former Yugoslav republics.
Playing soccer against each for the first since the end of the war, Bosnia and Croatia, who were allies but also enemies at times during the conflict, played out a tense, hard-tackling encounter at the Dall'Ara stadium.
Slaven Bilic opened the scoring after 14 minutes, stretching to stab home Boban's cross from the left unchallenged after the Milan mid-fielder had gone round the back of the Bosnian defence.
Though it looked like one-way traffic, Bosnia managed to level after 25 minutes with the fledgling nation's first ever international goal at senior level. Nermin Sabic supplied the cross from the right and Hasan Salihamidzic drove home from close range.
However, Croatia's extra class soon took its toll on the Bosnian defence and barely 10 minutes later they were back in front, Vlaovic rifling home from the edge of the box after a mix-up at the back.
Croatia kept up the pressure in the second hall, Bosnian goalkeeper Fahrudin Omerovic tipping, a fierce 20-yard drive from Boban just over the bar and then facing a free-kick from him.
Alen Boksic, who had done little until the 63rd minute, burst through the open space of the Bosnian defence, just as he did for Juventus against Manchester United in the Champions' League, and chipped the advancing Omerovic for Croatia's third.
Six minutes before the end, Boksic struck a fine left-footed drive into the roof of the net from 15 yards to cap a convincing display by the Croatian side.
Bulgaria, reduced to 10 men after an hour when substitute Ivan Vassilev was sent off, squeezed out a 2-1 win over Luxembourg in group five to breathe new life into their qualifying campaign.
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