WCQ: Bosnia & Herzegovina 0-1 Portugal (0-2 aggregate)

Bosnia & Herzegovina's hopes of qualifying for a first World Cup were on a knife edge when the home leg of their World Cup Qualifying playoff against Portugal kicked off this evening. Ultimately, a tricky pitch, noisy crowd and a handful of talented players could not prevent those hopes being dashed by a 55th minute goal from the Portuguese.

Portugal, simultaneously deserving and fortunate in the first leg in Lisbon, travelled to Zenica with a 1-0 aggregate lead and the knowledge that an away goal could effectively put Bosnia away and clear their own path to South Africa next summer.

Bosnia were willing but nervous for the first 25 minutes on a bumpy pitch. Their endeavours left huge gaping holes at the back, particularly out wide, and it was Portugal who carved out the first real chance. Some lovely football culminated in a great through ball from Raul Meireles but the opportunity came to nothing thanks to a neat save by Kenan Hasagic. At the other end Eduardo hadn't had a save to make.

As far as action is concerned, that was the sub-total for the first half. The teams became locked into an abrasive match in which passing was poor and shots largely absent. It was a situation which suited Bosnia, who simply couldn't afford to concede, but Portugal looked as likely to score as their hosts.

Hasagic had to save with his feet once again shortly after the break, smartly blocking a low shot by Nani after the Bosnian defence had allowed the Manchester United winger to wriggle free in the penalty area. Bosnia's first real effort quickly followed, Miralem Pjanic firing wide from 20 yards.

In the 55th minute the tie was all but over. A scrappy approach by Liedson and Nani finally resulted in a simple pass across the edge of the box to Raul Meireles, who took one touch before finding the bottom corner with his first goal in World Cup Qualifying. The all-important away goal, as they say, and one which demanded Bosnia score three to win.

The same man struck wide twice in the next 15 minutes as the game opened up even more for Portugal with Bosnia hunting a miracle. But the home side didn't look any more capable of scoring as the clock ticked away Bosnia's chances of qualifying.

The home side's demeanour became ever more fractious and it wasn't surprising to see the dismissal of Sejad Salihovic for double dissent with 15 minutes left.

Unfortunately it happened during a very ugly incident in which the Italian assistant referee was struck by one of a large number of missiles thrown onto the pitch by Bosnian supporters. To their credit, several players from the home team made their way into the offending corner to make clear their opposition to the supporters' actions. Sadly, they continued regardless.

And so, despite the best efforts of a very promising Bosnian side, we won't be spared the presence of the hateful Cristiano Ronaldo in South Africa next summer. But for all his petulance an histrionics, Portugal won't be getting near the final - they're simply not good enough.