Croatia rating late extra-time equaliser then win penalty shoot-out to upset the favourites Brazil.
Croatia has knocked event favourites Brazil out of the World Cup, beating the five-time champions 4-2 in a penalty shootout within the quarterfinals following a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.
The 2018 runners-up got here by their second consecutive shootout after beating Japan additionally on penalties within the final 16 and can now face both the Netherlands or Argentina who play one another later.
The Croats saved their composure from the penalty spot. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved a penalty try by Rodrygo and Marquinhos later hit the put up.
Via a tense opening half on the Training Metropolis Stadium on Friday, there was nothing to separate event favourites Brazil and Croatia, with each side having fun with half possibilities in a free-flowing sport, however nothing clear-cut.
If something, Croatia loved the very best likelihood of the half, when, after 13 minutes, Ivan Perisic may solely miss-cue a whipped Mario Pasalic cross previous Alisson’s goalpost.
The Brazilians, who’ve now misplaced 4 of their final 5 World Cup quarter-finals all to European opposition, loved a a lot better begin to the second half and got here shut once more within the 66th when Lucas Paqueta was denied by Livakovic.
The Croatia keeper was saved busy and stopped Neymar within the 76th and by that point had extra saves within the match (seven) than his Brazil counterpart, Alisson, had in your entire event (5).
Livakovic parried one other Paqueta shot 5 minutes later because the few hundred Brazil followers within the stands grew louder and extra impatient and the sport trickled over to additional time with Brazil coach Tite visibly nervous.
After a scoreless 90 minutes Brazil took a 1-0 lead with a bit of additional time solo magic from Neymar however gritty Croatia refused to stop, and equalised when Bruno Petkovic scored within the 117th.
Neymar’s objective moved him right into a tie with Pelé as Brazil’s all-time main scorer with 77 objectives.
Croatia will subsequent face both Argentina or the Netherlands who play later tonight.
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