Euro 2016 play-off: Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-1 Republic of Ireland

1. Brady gives Republic lead & away goal
2. Dzeko replies from eight yards out
3. Away goals count double in event of drawn tie
4. Match being played in thick fog in Zenica
5. Return leg in Dublin on Monday

Date with destiny

Are the Republic of Ireland heading for Euro 2016? Martin O'Neill's side are not there yet but they have taken a big step to confirming their place at next summer's tournament. Join us on Monday to find out whether they can finish the job against Bosnia and join Northern Ireland, England and Wales in France. Until then...

Player reaction

Republic of Ireland defender Ciaran Clark: "It was very foggy out there, especially in the second half. But it was the same for both teams. That's half the tie done and we've got to get ready for Monday."

Player reaction

Bosnia-Herzegovina keeper Asmir Begovic: "We couldn't quite get the ball down and play the way we wanted. The weather made it difficult, the fog made it tough. It was a tight game and it's all to play for on Monday."

At least the weather forecast for Dublin on Monday does not include fog...

FULL-TIME

A terrific shift by Martin O'Neill's battling players. It means a goalless draw in Dublin on Monday will be enough to send the Republic of Ireland to Euro 2016.

Jeers ring out from home fans once again as Ireland are in no hurry to take a free kick deep inside their half. More vital seconds eaten up.

This was never going to be a classic because of the high stakes but Ireland are moments away from heading back to Dublin with an away goal and a fine result.

SUBSTITUTION

Another change for Bosnia. They're going for this...midfielder Izet Hajrovic for Senad Lulic. Four additional minutes to be played.

Let's be clear about this. A 1-1 draw away to Bosnia will still be a very good result for Ireland to take back to Dublin for Monday's deciding leg.

GOAL - Bosnia 1-1 Republic of Ireland

A game of few chances suddenly bursts into life, Edin Dzeko side footing Bosnia level from seven yards after being icked out by substitute Ognjen Vranjes. Ireland have six minutes to hang on in the Zenica fog.

GOAL - Bosnia 0-1 Republic of Ireland

PA

Can you believe it? Ireland have the lead as Norwich City midfielder Robbie Brady skips past Toni Sunjic before firing home from the edge of the penalty area to send 800 travelling fans delirious. A huge moment.

Get Involved

Darren Randolph might be 28 but he is still a rookie when it comes to senior international action. The West Ham keeper has done everything asked of him in Zenica and commanded his area well. He's just over 10 minutes away from a clean sheet.

SUBSTITUTION

Huge noise from the home fans as forward Milan Duric comes on. That's three strikers on the pitch for Bosnia. What is puzzling is that Edin Visca - one of their best players on the night - is hauled off. 

This fog is not going anywhere fast. Apparently if the game is stopped then the remaining minutes will be played on Saturday or a time agreed by both associations. Twenty minutes remaining.

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SUBSTITUTION

Here comes Ireland's second change of the night - Stoke defender Marc Wilson replaces Burnley's Stephen Ward.

'Fog lights'

Excellent photograph from our man in Zenica.

Ireland are producing a fine rearguard display. Bosnia have had most of the possession since the re-start but they are struggling to unlock a solid back four. Ireland's fans are getting louder and louder as the home supporters become more and more frustrated.

SUBSTITUTION

Farcical scenes. Ireland's white shirts are just - just - about visible. The German referee is just about visible - and he's wearing a bright yellow top. 

Here comes Ireland's first change. On comes midfielder James McClean for Wes Hoolahan.  

PA

Will this game finish? What happens if the referee is forced to stop the match because of the fog? Just over half an hour of normal time remaining.

SUBSTITUTION

A Bosnia attack results in Ciaran Clark just about getting the ball back to Darren Randolph before the hosts can cause any serious damage. Bosnia have made a change - defender Ognjen Vranjes on for Mensur Mujdza.

Meanwhile, the fog is getting worse.

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Game in jeopardy?

Conor McNamara

BBC Radio 5 live in Zenica

A very thick blanket of fog has come and covered the stadium. I can just about make out the flag on the left hand side. This game could be in jeopardy if it gets any worse

No changes by either side. Early chance for Ireland but skipper Glenn Whelan lashes the ball horribly wide from just outside the area.

This fog...it could yet become a problem.

KICK-OFF

What has happened to the weather in Zenica? The fog has come down quickly during the interval. Back under way...

James McClean doing some intense drills on the pitch during the half-time interval. An Ireland change at the start of the second half? The visitors are out early for the start of the second half and are made to wait a few minutes for Bosnia to appear.

Advantage Hungary

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The play-offs are well and truly under way, Hungary taking a step towards their first major tournament in 30 years with a first-leg win in Oslo on Thursday.

Debutant Laszlo Kleinheisler was the match-winner, smashing in an early goal from 15 yards.

On Saturday, Sweden entertain Denmark and Ukraine host Solvenia.

All you need to know about the Euro 2016 play-offs can be found on the BBC Sport website.

Ireland need to keep their discipline. Stephen Ward has already been booked while Ciaran Clark's sliding challenge on Mensur Mujdza at the end of the first half nearly sparked a mass coming together. But it's a case of so far so good. Martin O'Neill will take a goalless draw back to Dublin and hope some of his injured players are available for the return leg on Monday.

HALF-TIME

The referee has had enough, No added time at the end of an uneventful first half. Ireland will be pleased with how things are panning out in Zenica.

They kept a clean sheet against world champions Germany last month and Ireland are doing a good job containing Bosnia in their own back yard. Edin Dzeko has hardly threatened while Miralem Pjanic has been limited to a couple of half chances. This is by no means a classic but the Republic are doing an effective job in Zenica.

Jeff Hendrick wins Ireland a rare corner. It's a low delivery but Glenn Whelan loses possession too easily and Bosnia clear. The Republic are lacking belief in the final third.

CLOSE!

Another close shave for Ireland as Senad Lulic narrowly fails to deflect Ervin Zukanovic's header beyond Darren Randolph. The faintest of touches by Lulic and that was going in.

An encouraging spell of possession for the Republic. For the first time it's gone quiet inside the ground. Seamus Coleman is trying to get forward and Wes Hoolahan is working hard to create an opening. Bosnia look edgy at the back. So far so good for the visitors.

YELLOW CARD

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Martin O'Neill's side have yet to craft an opening. The Republic boss will not be too concerned by that right now as his defenders are doing a decent job at the other end. First booking of the game goes to Stephen Ward after a cynical tug to stop Edin Visca, who is everywhere.

CLOSE!

Very close for Bosnia. The dangerous Edin Visca delivers a fine cross into the Republic area and Vedad Ibisevic volleys into the side netting from 10 yards. The stadium is rocking, the Republic need to hold their nerve.

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An excellent question...

PENALTY APPEAL

A Republic corner is cleared and Bosnia are on the counter. Edin Visca powers forward and tumbles inside the area after a challenge by Robbie Brady. Nervous looks from the visitors bench but the referee doesn't buy it much to the frustration of the home players.

First sound of the Fields of Athenry in the Bilino Polje Stadium from the travelling fans. They're in good voice and so they might be. Their team has started well.

Get Involved

First shot in anger and it's Roma's Miralem Pjanic who lets fly from the edge of the Republic penalty area. That's landed in Row Z. High and wide.

More jeers. This time it's James McCarthy who is the target of the home fans' anger after a crunching challenge on Senad Lulic which goes unpunished.

Get Involved

First sign of a threat from Bosnia but it quickly fizzles out as Edin Dzeko does not have the pace to go past Richard Keogh, the Republic defender playing the ball off his opponent for a goal kick.

Conor McNamara

BBC Radio 5 live in Zenica

There is a good atmosphere in Zenica. It looked like Ireland were beginning to waste time from the first minute. A draw would be a good result for Martin O'Neill's men.

Has anyone ever seen Martin O'Neill sit down in the dug out? He's standing in his technical area again, arms folded, barking instructions. He'll be happy with these first five minutes. Bosnia have seen more of the ball but there's been nothing to worry the visitors defence so far.

Whistles and jeers ring out from the home fans every time a white shirt is on the ball. Steady start by the visitors. Already a couple of late challenges on a greasy surface.

KICK-OFF

One hundred and eighty minutes away from Euro 2016. We're under way...

'Let's stay in the tie'

Part of Martin O'Neill's team talk...

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'Who is going to France?'

Moments away from kick off.

Countdown to kick-off

The players are in the tunnel. They can hear the noise around the stadium. There's only 15,000 inside the ground but it sounds like 30,000. Many of the home fans, draped in blue and yellow home colours, are jumping up and down on the spot, a bit like West Brom fans doing the 'Boing boing'.

'Pjanic is Bosnia's danger man'

Kevin Kilbane

MOTD pundit with 110 caps for Republic of Ireland

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I understand why Edin Dzeko is talked about as Bosnia's main threat, because he scored most of their goals in qualifying. But it is Dzeko's Roma team-mate Miralem Pjanic who I see as their real danger man. He is one of the best players in Europe and he is in terrific form - he has seven goals and six assists already for his club this season. Pjanic will cause problems with his free-kicks when he is near enough to goal but his passing ability means he is good enough to dictate the game in open play too. He is the player the Republic need to stop in this tie."

'Loud and hostile'

'One-nil defeat a good result'

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Former Republic of Ireland player Liam Brady says a 1-0 defeat would be a good result for his country in Bosnia considering the number of players they have missing due to injury and suspension.

"In an ideal world, Ireland would get an away goal tonight but, for me, a good enough result would be to come away from Zenica with a one-goal deficit, especially considering we're going into the game missing very serious players," Brady writes in the Irish Examiner.

"A one-goal deficit would give us a real chance in the second leg, and a one-goal deficit with an away goal scored would make it all the better."

Countdown to kick-off

Reuters

Fifteen minutes to kick-off. It looks foggy at the Bilino Polje Stadium but it's more to do with flares some of the home fans are carrying than the weather.

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'Big test'

Republic of Ireland players past and present have their say on the big match...

'Key is how well Republic defend'

Kevin Kilbane

MOTD pundit with 110 caps for Republic of Ireland

Martin O'Neill has had the core of his team decimated by injuries and suspensions but a draw or even a narrow defeat would keep the tie alive for Monday's second leg in Dublin, when he will hopefully have some key players back. The key to a good result for the Republic could be how well they defend Bosnia's set-plays, because I think we will get chances from dead balls too - and they could even decide who makes it to France."

Countdown to kick-off

Here's our man in Zenica...

Lively

Half an hour to kick-off and it's getting lively inside - and outside - the 15,600-capacity Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica. It's a sell-out and some home fans have turned up with flares. It looks quite spectacular and they're making a din already. 

Reuters

Seven goals for Edin Dzeko

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Begovic & Dzeko start for Bosnia

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Two changes for Bosnia-Herzegovina, with defender Edin Cocalic and former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko in for Ognjen Vranjes and Haris Medunjanin. Chelsea keeper Asmir Begovic starts in goal. 

Bosnia-Herzegovina XI: Begovic, Cocalic, Spahic, Ibisevic, Pjanic, Mujdza, Sunjic, Lulic, Zukanovic, Visca, Dzeko. 

'O'Shea a big miss'

Kevin Kilbane

MOTD pundit with 110 caps for Republic of Ireland

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It is Sunderland centre-half John O'Shea who I think will be missed the most in Zenica, simply because he usually organises the team and helps it keep its shape. O'Shea is not just the captain of the side, he is very much its voice on the pitch and my biggest worry for the first leg is how much experience we are lacking, with goalkeeper Shay Given also out injured. I am still hopeful O'Shea will be fit to play in the second leg once he has served his suspension and, along with Jon Walters and Shane Long, could return to tip the tie in the Republic's balance."

Four changes for Republic

This isn't going to be easy for the Republic. Not only are they going to be playing in front of a partisan home crowd, they are missing several key players.

There are four changes to the XI that started the 2-1 defeat away to Poland on 11 October. Striker Shane Long (foot), Jon Walters (suspended) and defender John O'Shea (suspended) are out along with James McClean. In come Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark, Ipswich striker Daryl Murphy, Burnley's Stephen Ward and Norwich midfielder Wes Hoolahan.

Republic of Ireland XI: Randolph, Coleman, Keogh, Clark, Ward, Hendrick, Whelan, McCarthy, Brady, Hoolahan, Murphy.

Now or never...

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A party without the Republic of Ireland? It's now or never for Martin O'Neill's men as they look to establish a lead in Zenica to take back to Dublin for Monday's deciding leg.

This is familiar territory for the Republic, their seventh play-off campaign in the last 19 years with varying degrees of success. 

They cruised past Estonia 5-1 on aggregate to reach Euro 2012 - two years after missing out on a place at the 2010 World Cup after a highly controversial defeat to France. 

Fair to say the Republic will settle for an ugly aggregate win over Bosnia...as long as all ferries and planes lead to France in seven months' time.

Last chance to grab an invite

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There are still another 210 days to go before the party gets going. It's the place where everybody wants to be seen but if your name is not on the list then you are not getting in.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland have managed to secure invites. Scotland came close but got knocked back along with the Netherlands.

Iceland, Albania and Slovakia will also be strutting their stuff alongside regular partygoers Spain, Germany and Italy. 

As for the Republic of Ireland, their invite depends on the next 72 hours. Produce some champagne football against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Martin O'Neill's team will also be off to Euro 2016.