WALES ended a 57-year wait to qualify for a major tournament despite Saturday's 2-0 defeat in Bosnia which kept alive the Balkan nation's hopes of joining them at the Euro 2016 finals.
The result left the Welsh second in Group B on 18 points from nine games, two behind Belgium who won 4-1 against Andorra to also qualify, and four ahead of third-placed Bosnia.
Israel's 2-1 defeat at home to Cyprus left them on 13 points and meant the Welsh could not be caught in the race for an automatic place at the finals in France next year.
Bosnia substitute Milan Djuric, who replaced winger Edin Visca on the hour, fired the home side ahead in the 71st minute and striker Vedad Ibisevic sealed the win in the 90th.
The Welsh, who celebrated with several hundred travelling fans, host bottom team Andorra in their final match while Bosnia will seal a play-off berth if they beat Cyprus on Tuesday.
Having made their only previous appearance on a major stage at the 1958 World Cup, Wales held their own for most of the match but were undone by a moment of poor defending.
Miralem Pjanic punted a long free kick upfield from the halfway line and the ball fell kindly for Djuric to head home after it bounced over several defenders off the slippery turf. Bosnia, roared on by a passionate home crowd in the Bilino Polje Stadium, added a second goal when Ibisevic bundled the ball home from close range after a corner.
Belgium took top spot in Group B from Wales and secured their Euro 2016 ticket by beating Andorra 4-1, grinding down the hosts' defensive wall in front of a delighted crowd of Belgian fans.
The visitors put pressure on the Andorran defence from the start, with Radja Nainggolan opening the score in the 19th minute. Kevin De Bruyne made it 2-0 before the end of the first half with a beautiful 20 metres free-kick.
The hosts clawed back a rare goal after the break when Ildefons Lima converted a penalty conceded by Jan Vertonghen who had lost Andorra's Victor Moreira and could only stop him with an inclement nudge.
Belgium wrapped up the points and their place in France with a penalty from Eden Hazard and Laurent Depoitre scoring on his debut.
Elsewhere, Croatia thrashed to remain in the hunt for the second automatic qualifying spot in Group H.
Fans were not allowed into the ground in Zagreb after Croatia were handed a crowd ban by European soccer's governing body UEFA for a racist incident in their 1-1 home draw against Italy in June. Croatia also had a point deducted.
Saturday's result left Croatia, who have claimed at least a playoff spot, third with 17 points from nine games, two behind Norway, who beat Malta 2-0, and four adrift of leaders Italy, who booked a place at the finals with a 3-1 win in Azerbaijan.
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