Portugal carved out a first-leg lead as Bruno Alves' header clinched a 1-0 win at home to Bosnia.
Alves header proves decisive as woodwork denies Bosnia three times
Portugal carved out a first-leg advantage in the World Cup play-offs as Bruno Alves' first-half goal clinched a 1-0 win at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Missing the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal were forced to turn to the unlikely source of Porto defender Alves for the decisive goal just past the half-hour mark.
Alves headed home at the far post to send Portugal into Wednesday's second leg with a slender advantage over Bosnia-Herzegovina, who are hoping to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time.
However, Portugal could easily be trailing ahead of the return meeting as Senijad Ibricic hit the crossbar in the first half before Edin Dzeko and Zlatan Muslimovic were denied by the woodwork late on.
While Bosnia-Herzegovina would have been enthused by their display, their hopes in the second leg will be undermined by bookings picked up by Emir Spahic, Elver Rahimic and Samir Muratovic which rules them out of Wednesday's game.
Portugal went into the game without star winger Ronaldo and his attacking craft was missed as they struggled to break down the visitors in the early stages when they gave away possession cheaply.
Culpable
Chelsea schemer Deco was most culpable as his usual creative influence deserted him while Simao Sabrosa and Liedson also failed to impart an influence.
The home side had been thwarted for half an hour before they finally created the chance to go ahead. Nani combined with Deco on the right side of the area before the former curled a cross to the far post where Alves was waiting to nod in the decisive goal.
Bosnia-Herzegovina had been happy to defend before the goal, but after they went behind showed a greater attacking desire.
After 38 minutes Fejae Salihovic found space down the left flank before firing in a shot that Eduardo did well to save. Five minutes later Ibricic clipped the crossbar as Portugal just about held their lead into the break.
The hosts pushed for a second after the interval with a couple of counter attacks, but again Bosnia-Herzegovina held firm.
Deco fed Liedson with a long ball that the striker superbly controlled with his chest, passed the ball over a defender and then narrowly shot over.
Deco then shot narrowly over himself as the visitors sat deep.
Bosnia-Herzegovina weathered the storm and Dzeko almost squeezed a shot in at Eduardo's near post with a snap shot after 77 minutes.
And the hosts almost had an away goal a minute from the end when Dzeko headed Miralem Pjanic's cross against the crossbar and Muslimovic also rattled the woodwork from the rebound.
