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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2017 49 Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Ruthless Belgium defeat Bosnia 4-3 BELGIUM kept their unbeaten World Cup qualif ying record in- tact after they took the lead and then came from behind in a 4-3 win at Bosnia on Saturday which dented the Balkan nation's hopes of reaching next year's finals. The outcome also sent Italy through to the playoffs as one of the eight best runners-up. The result left the Belgians, who had already qualified for the 32-team tournament in Rus- sia as winners of Group H, with 25 points from nine games, 11 ahead of second-placed Bosnia who now have only a slim chance of clinching a play-off berth. Third-placed Greece, who have 13 points from eight games, can move above the Bosnians into the runners-up spot when they visit Cyprus later on Saturday. Wing-back Thomas Meu- nier fired Belgium ahead in the fourth minute with his fifth goal in six games, sweeping in a fine cut-back by Eden Hazard on a muddy pitch at Grbavica sta- dium. The Bosnians piled on the pres- sure after falling behind and hit back through midfielder Haris Medunjanin and winger Edin Visca to turn the tables before halftime. Medunjanin equalised on the half-hour with a close-range finish after he was set up Ed- in Dzeko and Visca rif led in a fierce shot from 14 metres nine minutes later after a calami- tous error by Belgium defender Jan Verthongen. Striker Michy Batshuayi equalised from three metres after Bosnia goalkeeper Asmir Begovic could only parry a sizzling low shot by Yannick Carrasco on the hour before Verthongen made amends for his mistake with a simple finish. The centre back volled home at the far post after a corner was driven into his path by Carrasco, silencing the passionate home crowd on a rainy night. Defender Dario Djumic re- kindled Bosnia's hopes with a thumping 82nd-minute header, only for Carrasco to score less than a minute later, when he took advantage of sloppy defend- ing to steer the ball past Begovic. Bosnia must beat Estonia away in their final game on Tuesday and hope that other results go their way in order to keep alive any hopes of progressing. Europe's nine group win- ners qualif y automatically for the World Cup while the eight best runners-up enter a two-leg playoff for the remaining four berths. Alex Iwobi goal sends Nigeria to World Cup as first African qualifiers ALEX Iwobi goal sends Nigeria to World Cup as first African qualifiers. Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi scored the goal which took Nigeria to the World Cup finals as they beat Zambia 1-0. Iwobi struck with 17 minutes re- maining of the match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo as Nigeria reached the World Cup for the sixth time. Alex Iwobi goal sends Nigeria to World Cup as first African qualifiers Tom Adams Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi scored the goal which took Nigeria to the World Cup finals as they beat Zambia 1-0. Iwobi struck with 17 minutes re- maining of the match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo as Nigeria reached the World Cup for the sixth time. The result gives Nigeria 13 points from five games in Group B, with Zambia, their nearest challengers, on seven points with one game to play.