Džeko and Lulić combine as Bosnians sink Andorra
Edin Džeko hit a hat-trick – all three laid on by Senad Lulić – as the visitors recorded a first Group B win at the fifth attempt.
Edin Džeko hat-trick secures first Group B win for Bosnians
• Senad Lulić provides assists for all three of captain's goals
• Mehmed Baždarević wins first game in charge of visitors
• Andorra have lost last 49 competitive fixtures
• Next qualifiers: Andorra v Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina v Israel (12 June)
Bosnia and Herzegovina got their Group B campaign up and running at the fifth attempt as an Edin Džeko hat-trick powered them to the win in Andorra.
Having failed to register a victory in their first four outings the Bosnian duck was broken as Senad Lulić and Džeko combined to devastating effect. The former set up all three goals for the Manchester City FC forward – one before the interval and two after – as the side moved within a point of Cyprus in fourth.
Against a side who had lost their last 48 competitive fixtures, it was little surprise to see the visitors have things their own way from the off. Ervin Zukanovic was the first to threaten, heading over from a corner but Mehmed Baždarević's men didn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough. Lulić perfectly laid off a lofted ball on the edge of the area and Džeko crashed in a powerful low shot.
The goalscorer then forced an excellent save from Ferran Pol with a towering header before Vedad Ibišević flashed over after showing off neat footwork. Muhamed Bešić curled off target and Ibišević failed to connect cleanly with an effort after combining with Džeko as the sides went in at just 1-0.
The home side could do little to halt the game's pattern in the second period and it took a superb Moisés San Nicolás block on the line to deny Emir Spahić doubling the scoreline. Džeko achieved what Spahić could not as Lulić escaped on the left and rolled across goal for a simple finish. The combination worked again on 62 minutes with Džeko completing his hat-trick after his partner in crime darted into the area and provided another superb assist.
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