Fernandes at the double as Portugal ease past Bosnia
Goals from Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes proved decisive as the Seleção won the first H2H between these sides in 12 years.
Roberto Martinez began his Portuguese managerial career in impressive fashion, overpowering minnows Liechtenstein and Luxembourg with an aggregate score of 10-0 in his first two matches in charge.
However, Bosnia would be the first real test for the Spaniard, and so it proved in a cagey first half that saw the Seleção frustrated for large periods thanks to the visitors’ impressive tenacity off the ball.
Bosnia were far from just a tough nut to crack, and offered plenty of threat going the other way. Adrian Barišić first struck the bar, before Edin Džeko skied a promising opportunity from deep inside the box.
Surprisingly, Portugal were made to wait until the stroke of HT to register a shot on target, but it proved more than worth the wait as Bernardo Silva broke the Bosnian rearguard with a glorious finish to send his side in ahead at the break.
While Faruk Hadžibegić’s outfit didn’t look off the pace after the restart, they certainly seemed cautious in their approach, as conceding another would mean any comeback against a Portuguese defence aiming for a third successive clean sheet looked beyond them.
However, they could only do so much, as Portugal doubled their tally 13 minutes from FT. Superbly executed once again, the Seleção brought the stadium to life with a wonderful team effort, finished off by Fernandes who rose highest to bury an inch-perfect Rúben Neves cross into the top corner.
Fernandes capped off a fine performance with a sublime half-volley in stoppage time for his second of the night, as Martinez's men kept up control of the qualifying group having scored 13 goals without reply in three games.
Meanwhile, Bosnia have remarkably failed to win 13 of their last 14 international road trips, and their own qualification hopes have been dented by a second consecutive loss.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
