Bosnia bow out with flare-filled 2-1 win at Estonia

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Bosnia’s Izet Hajrovic in action with Estonia’s Mattias Kait REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

TALLINN (Reuters) - Bosnia and Herzegovina ended their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win at Estonia in a Group H dead rubber which produced more fireworks on the terraces, as neither side had any chance of advancing to the playoffs.

Play was held up for several minutes after visiting Bosnia fans hurled several flares on to the pitch in the 14th minute. The officials had to wait for the billowing smoke to clear before allowing the contest to continue.

The result left Bosnia third in the group on 17 points, two behind second-placed Greece who secured a playoff berth with a 4-0 home win over Gibraltar.

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Bosnia fans with flares REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Group winners Belgium, who had already sealed automatic qualification for next year's tournament in Russia, beat Cyprus 4-0 to finish on 28 points.

The Estonians finished fourth with 11 points.

Bosnian forward Izet Hajrovic broke the deadlock shortly after half-time when he smashed a volley past goalkeeper Mikhel Aksalu, who produced three fine saves while the home side were on the back foot.

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Bosnia’s Edin Dzeko in action REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Midfielder Ilja Antonov equalised with a rasping low shot from 20 metres in the 75th minute after picking up a loose ball and rifling it past Bosnia's Asmir Begovic.

But Hajrovic was on target again almost ten minutes later, drilling an arrowed shot past Aksalu after being put through by Roma striker Edin Dzeko, who came off the bench for a makeshift Bosnian side missing the bulk of their regular starters.

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Bosnia’s Izet Hajrovic celebrates scoring their second goal with Edin Dzeko and team mates REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Estonia’s Ilja Antonov celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Bosnia’s Edin Dzeko prepares to come on as a substitute REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Estonia’s Ilja Antonov celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Bosnia’s Sead Kolasinac in action with Estonia’s Taijo Teniste REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Bosnia’s Edin Dzeko in action REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Bosnia’s Izet Hajrovic celebrates scoring their second goal with Edin Dzeko and team mates REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Bosnia’s Izet Hajrovic celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Estonia’s Sergei Zenjov in action with Bosnia’s Kenan Kodro REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 Bosnia’s Kenan Kodro reacts REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Estonia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia - October 10, 2017 General view of players and match officials with flares on the pitch REUTERS/Ints Kalnins