Bruno Alves's goal gives Portugal a slender lead over Bosnia-Herzegovina

Portugal's Deco takes a free kick while Simao watches on
Portugal's Deco takes a free kick during the World Cup play-off first leg against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Photograph: Marcos Borga/Reuters

Portugal will take a slender advantage into the second leg of their play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina after Bruno Alves scored the only goal in Lisbon. A tightly contested encounter was decided on the half-hour mark when the Manchester United winger Nani crossed to the far post where Alves was on hand to head in.

Nani, who deputised in the absence of the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, was Portugal's most enterprising player. However, their hopes of finding a second goal were continually thwarted by a disciplined display from Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The visitors showed why only Spain were able to defeat them in the group stage and they could even have taken an away goal into Wednesday's second leg a minute from the end, when Edin Dzeko headed against the bar and the substitute Zlatan Muslimovic hit a post from the rebound.

While Bosnia-Herzegovina would have been enthused, their hopes in the second leg will be undermined by bookings picked up by Emir Spahic, Elver Rahimic and Samir Muratovic which rule them out of Wednesday's game.

Portugal struggled to break down the visitors in the early stages, when they gave away possession cheaply. Deco was most culpable as his usual influence deserted him, while Simao Sabrosa and Liedson also failed to have an influence.

The home side had been thwarted for half an hour before they finally created the chance to go ahead. Nani combined with Deco on the right of the area before the former curled a cross to the far post where Alves was waiting to nod the ball in.

Bosnia-Herzegovina had been happy to defend but after going behind they showed a greater attacking desire. After 38 minutes Fejae Salihovic found space down the left before firing in a shot that Eduardo did well to save. Five minutes later Senijad Ibricic headed a corner just over the crossbar as Portugal just about held their lead into the interval.

The hosts pushed for a second after it with a couple of counter attacks, but again Bosnia-Herzegovina held firm. Deco fed Liedson with a long ball that the striker controlled with his chest, passed over a defender and then narrowly shot over. Deco then shot narrowly over himself as the visitors sat deep.

Bosnia-Herzegovina survived and Dzeko almost squeezed a shot in at Eduardo's near post with a snap shot after 77 minutes.