Cyprus comeback stuns Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Cyprus end a long scoreless run to open Group B with a comeback win in Zenica
• Vedad Ibišević puts Bosnia and Herzegovina in front on six minutes
• Dimitris Christofi scores on 45 and 73 minutes for Cyprus, whose last goal had been in February 2013
• Miralem Pjanić has a last-minute penalty saved by Antonis Giorgallides
• Next fixtures: Wales v Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus v Israel (10 October)

Cyprus ended a long run without a goal to secure a surprise 2-1 victory away to Bosnia and Herzegovina in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group B.

Home coach Safet Sušić deployed an attacking formation, bringing in Senad Lulić, Avdija Vršajević, Tino-Sven Sušić and Ermin Bičakčić, and was swiftly rewarded. Edin Džeko headed just off target in the first minute and Vedad Ibišević soon opened the scoring, nodding in Vršajević's cross.

Antonis Giorgallides was being kept busy in the Cyprus goal, though at the other end Asmir Begović did well to save Stathis Aloneftis's free-kick. It was still against the run of play when Cyprus halted a 926-minute stretch without a goal, Dimitris Christofi brilliantly heading in Aloneftis's centre.

The visitors emerged with renewed confidence and Bosnia and Herzegovina were struggling, so Sušić introduced Haris Medunjanin and Izet Hajrović. That seemed to regain the initiative and Muhamed Bešić shot just over the crossbar as the home team began to look strong on the counterattack.

But then the sucker punch, as Christofi led a break of his own, advanced from midfield and beat Begović. Bosnia and Herzegovina soon responded, Bešić hitting the upright on 82 minutes.

With a minute to go the Dragons were thrown a lifeline when Džeko was fouled in the box by Giorgos Merkis. However, Giorgallides saved Miralem Pjanić's penalty and Cyprus had what seemed an unlikely win.