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Bosnia edges Mexico 1-0 in warm-up match

By WTOP Staff

CHICAGO (AP) — Bosnia and Herzegovina had lost its first two matches to Mexico in international soccer.

The Dragons have midfielder Izet Hajrovic and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to thank for turning their fortune around Tuesday night.

Hajrovic scored in the 41st minute and Begovic made a pair of big saves in the second half of Bosnia’s 1-0 victory over Mexico in a pre-World Cup friendly.

“We must be careful,” midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic said. “The first game against Argentina (on June 15) is very tough. I think it’s one level up from Mexico.”

Mismovic noted that many in his country remain homeless after massive flooding.

“I hope we can put a smile on their faces for 90 minutes each game,” Mismovic said.

Hajrovic maneuvered into open space 8 yards from the net and left- footed Sejad Salihovic’s feed from the left side past diving keeper Alfredo Talavera. Senad Lulic also assisted.

“Bosnia played a good game,” Mexico coach Miguel Herrera said. “They played two good halves. Their goalie did really well.”

But Herrera complained that Bosnia’s last-minute substitutions just before the game, including forward Edin Dezko, were unfair.

“The last minute, other players, that’s dirty,” Herrera said through a translator. “This is a friendly. It should have been stopped. That’s no good. You won’t see this in the World Cup. That’s unacceptable.”

Dezko had Bosnia’s best offensive chances in the early going. The Dragons’ adjustments to their starting lineup created defensive confusion for Mexico for the first few minutes. Dezko took three shots, the first saved and the others floating over the net.

Begovic got his squad’s first shutout of the exhibition series. His two saves came late, on Francisco Rodriguez’s header in the 86th minute and Miguel Ponce’s 35-yard shot in the 92nd.

Mexican favorite Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez rifled a shot off the left post 24 minutes in, prompting a loud groan from the largely pro- Mexico crowd of 60,707 at Soldier Field. Hernandez was held shotless thereafter, and replaced by Alan Pulido in the second half.

“His determination was really good, just came up a little bit short,” Herrera said of Hernandez. “He moved well side to side. Lots of effort.”

Hajrovic was unaccountably left open on Bosnia’s goal after having been tightly marked for most of the first half. Dzeko was unmarked before his first shot, which Talavera saved by diving to his right in the fourth minute, and fired two more shots in the next four minutes.

After that, the Mexican defense settled in, and the Bosnians were held to the sides of the penalty area until Salihovic found the open Hajrovic.

Hernandez’ goalless run for Mexico dates back to last year’s Confederations Cup in Brazil. The Manchester United regular scored both goals in Mexico’s 2-1 victory over Japan on June 22, and has been shut out for El Tri since.

“I (was) a little unlucky today,” Hernandez said. “I’m thankful this wasn’t the World Cup.”

It was the last pre-World Cup match for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which begins its Group F series against Argentina in Rio de Janeiro on June 15. Mexico opens against Cameroon in Group A on June 13, and later plays Croatia.

“Croatia is similar to Bosnia,” Herrera said. “It certainly helps us to know what we have against Croatia.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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