Cyprus played valiantly, and maybe deserved better, but they still end up on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline away to Bosnia-Herzegovina in their 2026 World Cup qualifier in Zenica. Particularly in the first half, Cyprus were arguably the better team, and Ioannis Pittas cancelled out an early goal for Ermedin Demirovic. In the second half, however, the Bosnians gained their bearings, and Haris Hajradinovic made the difference with the eventual winning goal.
Bosnia-Herzegovina lead the group with 6 points couple with their surprise win at Romania on Friday. Romania rebounded with a win over San Marino, and they are tied with Cyprus on 3 points. Austria have no points, but also have yet to play. San Marino are last in the group with no points after two losses.
This was Cyprus’s first loss under Apostolos Mantzios, and their record against Bosnia-Herzegovina falls to three losses in five meetings, Cyprus having won the other two. Cyprus will next play on June 6th in a friendly at Bulgaria in Plovdiv, followed by their next World Cup qualifier which will be in Bucharest as they visit Romania on the 10th of the same month.
Cyprus visited Bosnia-Herzegovina at Bilino Polje in Zenica. Ermedin Demirovic had the first shot on target, but Joel Mall was able to make the save. At the other end, Andronikos Kakoullis hit a good strike that narrowly went over the net. Then Ioannis Kosti found Kakoullis going to net, but the cross was just too far in front for Kakoullis to get a good touch. Loizos Loizou then put one wide from outside the box. Finally Cyprus got one on goal, but Kakoullis was stopped in tight by Nikola Vasilj. Giannis Satsias crossed in for Ioannis Pittas, but his header was weak and easy to save for Vasilj.
Despite Cyprus’s good early pressure, the hosts struck first. Benjamin Tahirovic delivered a free kick which found Demirovic who seemed to be at a bad angle, but his strike was perfect, and beat a surprised Mall to put the Bosnians up 1-0 in the 22nd minute.
Cyprus tried to respond and earned a corner, but Kostas Laifis put a tame effort wide. Pittas had a go from distance, which was blocked off for a corner by Tahirovic, which was cleared. Pittas then unleashed a bullet from inside the box, but he shanked it wide.
Cyprus got what they deserved at the end of the first half from a corner. The corner came to Ioannis Kousoulos who headed it on net, Vasilj made the save, but the rebound came to Pittas and his header found the back of the net, and the halftime score was 1-1.
Early in the second half, the Bosnians earned another free kick and tried the same play to Demirovic, but this time Mall made the save and Kousoulos blocked the rebound.
Some Bosnian pressure put the hosts back on top not long after, however. Stjepan Radeljic forced a save from Mall, and the rebound came right to Haris Hajradinovic, Kousoulos got a piece of it, but it still found its way in, 2-1 for Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 57th minute.
It looked like double trouble for Cyprus, when Demirovic put one off the crossbar that Sead Kolasinac put in, but it was offside, confirmed by VAR. Kosti made a nice run that earned a free kick, but Kastanos did nothing with it. Hajradinovic tried to double his tally, but put one off the post. Hajradinovic then put one on net, but Mall made the save to keep Cyprus in it. Samed Bazdar went in for the kill, but Mall made another clutch save.
Trying to level the match, Pittas ended up in a race with Amar Dedic. Dedic made the most of a light shove and went down, and Pittas was charged with a yellow card. Pittas sarcastically applauded the referee and was shown a second yellow, which got him sent off, but time was up anyway, and Bosnia-Herzegovina walked away with a 2-1 win.
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA(Sergej Barbarez): 1. Nikola Vasilj(GK), 7. Amar Dedic, 21. Stjepan Radeljic, 16. Adrian Barisic(’72 18. Nikola Katic), 5. Sead Kolasinac(Captain), 20. Haris Hajradinovic(’88 13. Ivan Basic), 6. Benjamin Tahirovic(’46 19. Dario Saric), 14. Ivan Sunjic, 8. Armin Gigovic(’46 9. Samed Bazdar), 23. Arjan Malic(’72 17. Dzenis Burnic), 10. Ermedin Demirovic
CYPRUS(Apostolos Mantzios): 1. Joel Mall(GK), 6. Giannis Satsias, 14. Giorgos Malekkidis(’88 7. Anderson Correia), 15. Christos Shelis, 17. Loizos Loizou(’65 2. Chambos Kyriakou), 11. Andronikos Kakoullis(’88 10. Pieros Sotiriou), 19. Kostas Laifis, 20. Grigoris Kastanos(Captain), 23. Ioannis Kosti(’72 5. Charalambos Charalambous), 8. Ioannis Kousoulos(’65 21. Marinos Tzionis), 9. Ioannis Pittas
Andrew Mantzas
Twitter: @MantzasNC