Soccer-Rampant Bosnia continue goal spree to sink Latvia

SARAJEVO, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Bosnia took another step

towards reaching their first major tournament as an independent

nation after brushing aside Latvia 4-1 in their Group G World

Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

A fifth minute strike by Latvia's Kaspars Gorkss heaped

early pressure on Bosnia but Zvjezdan Misimovic opened the

floodgates for the hosts after he scored a 12th minute penalty.

Miralem Pjanic made it 2-1 to Bosnia after he pounced on

Edin Dzeko's pass to score a minute before the halftime.

Misimovic was on target again in the 54th minute and Dzeko,

who missed several opportunities, completed the rout in injury

time.

Bosnia, on six points, top Group G on goal difference from

2004 European champions Greece after emphatic wins in their

opening two qualifiers.

After thrashing Liechtenstein 8-1 last week, coach Safet

Susic hoped his team can carry on the winning run when they meet

their main Group G rivals in the next round of fixtures in

October.

"Greece are a team that are undoubtedly very confident but

the latest results give us more than enough reason to believe

that we can beat them," he told reporters.