Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-4 USA — Altidore and the Dazzling Dozen

Altidore’s (center) astonishing hat trick sent the Golden Lilies sagging.

Hat-trick stretches streak in huge road upset

By Michael Ligot

SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA — Racking up victories in North America is one thing. Knocking off the 13th.-ranked team in the world on their turf? With a second-half comeback? And with a hat trick from your top striker?

That’s legitimacy.

Jozy Altidore’s three goals, all earned in the second 45 minutes, and Eddie Johnson’s additional tally knocked off a 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina halftime lead and gave the United States a stunning 4-3 international friendly victory. Overshadowing Edin Dzeko’s brace for the hosts, the victory stretched the American’s globe-leading winning streak to 12 games.

With the 84th.-minute score at Asim Ferahtovic Hase Stadium tied 2-2, Altidore gave the United States the lead via, of all things, a direct kick.

Zvjezdan Misimovic’s foul on Edgar Castillo set up a direct kick about five yards outside the penalty area. Altidore, who rarely takes free kicks, struck a Beckham-esque masterpiece that sailed over the wall and arced well past the right of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic for his second of the game.

Two minutes later, the Newark, New Jersey, native clinched his hat trick and the game.

After Sasha Kljestan stole the ball, Michael Bradley’s pass found Altidore beating the offside trap on the right, and he poked it past the shell-shocked Begovic to double the lead, 4-2.

Manchester City star Edin Dzeko set up a tense finish when he shook off debutant defender John Anthony Brooks for a 90th.-minute headed goal, but the Americans held out in added time for the triumph.

The United States now hasn’t suffered dropped points since losing 4-2 to Belgium May 29. Bosnia and Herzegovina, meanwhile, saw their undefeated streak in all competitions snapped at eight.

It didn’t look like the Golden Lilies would lose the streak, with how the first 55 minutes played out.

Toeing offside within millimeters to receive Misimovic feeds supplied Bosnia and Herzegovina’s pair of first-half goals to rattle the erratic Americans. The Golden Lilies just needed eight minutes to present Exhibit A.

Dzeko opened and closed the scoring with impressive finishes.

The Seattle Sounders’ Johnson, playing as a left midfielder, coughed up the ball right above the American area, and a narrowly onside Dzeko took Misimovic’s ensuing pass. Goalkeeper Tim Howard stopped Dzeko’s initial shot, but central defenders Geoff Cameron and Brooks’ tardy backtracking let Dzeko nail the rebound merely eight minutes in. That and his late tally pushed the leading scorer in the Lilies’ short modern history (FIFA admission 1996) to 31 goals.

Come the half-hour mark? Wash, rinse, repeat. After the United States cleared a corner, Vedad Ibisevic got between two American defenders right on the defensive line and headed Misimovic’s return volley for his 17th. international goal. Unlike Dzeko’s goal, however, more than a few observers felt Ibisevic was just offside.

Johnson, whom Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann moved up to second striker after halftime, quickly redeemed himself to get the Americans on the board. As Altidore tapped the indefatigable Bradley’s high through-ball rightward, Johnson went around Ermin Bickacik to receive the piece, avoided Begovic at the top of the area, and hit a golf-putt-like shot for his 18th. international goal.

About 200 seconds later, Altidore set an American scoring record. He got into a precise diagonal position between two Bosnia and Herzegovina defenders and one-timed Fabian Johnson’s deft pass into the side netting. The son of Haitian immigrants became the first American to score in five consecutive games when his shot tied the score.

The game continued to open up, with Misimovic and American newcomer Aron Johansson (who just switched over from Iceland) contributing noticeable efforts, but then Altidore stepped to the ball for his decisive free kick, and the Americans earned a rare comeback victory on European soil.

The United States, which leads the CONCACAF Hexagonal with 13 points, next visits consistent thorn Costa Rica September 6. Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose 16 points leads UEFA Group G, resume play the same day at home against second-place Slovakia.

SCORING 

1) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dzeko 8′

2) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ibisevic (Misimovic) 30′

3) USA, E. Johnson (Altidore, Bradley) 55′

4) USA, Altidore (F. Johnson) 59′

5) USA, Altidore 84′

6) USA, Altidore (Bradley, Kljestean) 86′

7) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dzeko (Visca) 90′

STATISTICS (from MLSSoccer.com)

Shots:  Bosnia and Herzegovina 12, USA 12

Shots on Goal:  Bosnia and Herzegovina 6, USA 6

Saves:  Bosnia and Herzegovina 2, USA 3

Corner Kicks:  Bosnia and Herzegovina 11, USA 5

Offsides:  Bosnia and Herzegovina 3, USA 1

Fouls:  Bosnia and Herzegovina 10, USA 10

Cautions  Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 (Spahic 27′), USA 0

Passes (Pct. completed):  Bosnia and Herzegovina 330 (80%), USA 519 (89%)

Duels Won (Pct.):  Bosnia and Herzegovina 31 (42%), USA 42 (57%)

Possession:  Bosnia and Herzegovina 40.3%, USA 59.7%

Attendance: unavailable

LINEUPS  

Bosnia and Herzegovina:  Begovic; Pjanic (Medunjanin 61′), Zukanovic (Visca 63′), Spahic (Sunijic 46′), Bicakcic; Rahimic (Zaharovic 46′), Misimovic, Salihovic (Stefanovic 46′); Ibisevic (Vrsajevic 46′), Dzeko.

USA:  Howard; F. Johnson (Parkhurst 80′), Brooks, Cameron, Evans (Wood 87′); Bradley, Jones (Kljestan 70′), E. Johnson (Johansson 63′), Diskerud (Castillo 46′), Bedoya (Corona 63′); Altidore.

Officials:  refereee Skomina (Slovenia), referee’s assistants  and fourth official unavailable.

NOTES 

— Besides Eddie Johnson, the only other MLS-based player on the roster was Seattle’s Brad Evans, who played 87 minutes. Save Mexican-based Castillo and Joe Corona (Tijuana), the rest of the squad plays their club soccer in Europe.

— Bosnia and Herzegovina’s last loss was a 2-1 friendly to Mexico June 1, 2012 in Chicago. During the Golden Lilies’ unbeaten run, their only blemish was a scoreless draw in a World Cup qualifier in Greece October 12.