Bosnia beat Wales on penalties to reach World Cup playoff final

2026-03-26 - 23:21

Bosnia and Herzegovina players celebrate Edin Dzeko’s (No 11) 86th-minute equaliser against Wales in Cardiff. (EPA Images pic) CARDIFF: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s veteran striker Edin Dzeko scored a late equaliser before his side beat Wales 4-2 on penalties to reach the World Cup playoff final on Thursday after a 1-1 draw. Wales winger Daniel James opened the scoring for the hosts in the 51st minute after racing on to a loose ball and powering a thunderous 25-metre shot past Bosnia keeper Nikola Vasilj. Bosnia came alive after that though and home keeper Karl Darlow made an incredible save to keep out a close-range header by Ermedin Demirovic but could do nothing as the 40-year-old Dzeko glanced in an 86th-minute equaliser. Wales dominated extra time but could not find a winner and in the end it was Bosnia’s teenager Kerim Alajbegovic who held his nerve to seal the shoot-out. Bosnia now face Italy on Tuesday in the Path A final