26/04 - 20:00
Croatia clawed their way back from a goal down to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Japan at the Al Janoub Stadium on Monday.
Trailing to Daizen Maeda´s first-half strike for the Blue Samurai, Croatia levelled after the break thanks to a fantastic header from Tottenham winger Ivan Perisic.
Both sides had their chances to win the contest in normal time, but after a lacklustre 30 minutes of extra-time the game finished 1-1 and went to penalties: Croatia´s Mario Pasalic scoring the decisive penalty to book his country´s place in the last eight of the tournament after Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida´s efforts had been saved by Dominik Livkovic.
The Action: It was a rip-roaring start from both teams, which saw chances created at either end in the opening period of the game.
Blue Samurai defender Shogo Taniguchi should perhaps have done better after just three minutes when a short corner routine caught Croatia cold and Wataru Endo´s cross found Tanuguchi, who glanced his header wide from around six yards out.
Croatia immediately responded with some nice passages of controlled football, and they had a clear sight of goal nine minutes in when Ivan Perisic latched onto a bungled back pass from Takehiro Tomiyasu. The Spurs winger was unable to make the Arsenal defender pay for his error, however, as Perisic waited for a pass to appear and then shot straight at Shuichi Gonda when it didn´t materialise.
Japan responded with Junya Ito whipping in a delightful cross that two Blue Samurai attackers came agonisingly close to connecting with.
The game ebbed and flowed, as both sides enjoyed spells of possession that invariably ended with balls being cut out in the final third following either good defending or bad decision-making.
Hajime Moriyasu´s Japan ended the half the stronger of the two sides, however, and they engineered a great opening on 40 minutes when Daichi Kamada fired over the bar after some incisive attacking play on the right hand side of Croatia's box.
It felt like a goal was in the ether for the Blue Samurai, and they deservedly took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Croatia failed to clear their lines after a devilish delivery from Japan´s Ritsu Doan, and Daizen Maeda was on hand to fire the loose ball home past Dominik Livakovic. There was a quick VAR check, but the goal stood.
A rather cagey first 10 minutes after the interval suggested that Japan were happy to soak up Croatian pressure and bide their time on the counter.
It appeared to be a decent tactic - until Croatia equalised from nowhere on 56 minutes courtesy of Spurs winger Perisic.
In a rather unlikely combination, defender Dejan Lovren swung in a cross from deep on the right, which was met by an absolutely fantastic header from Perisic that arrowed into the bottom corner of the net.
The similarities 😍
— Croatian Football 🇭🇷🇺🇦 (@CroatiaFooty) December 5, 2022
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Stung into action. Japan went straight up the other end and Wataru Endo forced a good save out of Livakovic with a fierce effort from 20 yards out.
Croatia talisman Luca Modric then unleashed a long range effort of his own on 63 minutes that was well tipped over by Gonda, and a couple of minutes later sub Ante Budomir should really have done better when he steered a header wide of the target after Kramaric's shot had been deflected into his path.
As the game moved into the final 20 minutes, Croatia seemed the more likely winner - the 2018 World Cup runners-up playing with added urgency and belief.
However, the next presentable chance fell to Japan courtesy of a smart pass on the edge of the box from Kaoru Mitoma to Tomayasu, who opted to try and cross the ball when he had more than enough time to get a shot off himself. The Arsenal man's cross went directly into Croatian traffic and the opportunity went begging.
As might be expected, the game became scrappy in its latter stages with the prospect of extra-time looming and neither team managed to break the deadlock in normal time.
Although Modric was notably subbed off to a warm reception, the first half of extra-time was fairly non-descript up until Mitoma brightened up proceedings with a scorching 50 yard run and a well-hit strike that was, fortunately for Croatia, straight down their goalkeeper Livkovic´s throat.
The second half of extra time was even less eventful. although Croatia did have one last chance to win it prior to the shoot-out through Lovro Majer. Into added time in extra time, Majer had a clear view of Japan's goal from the edge of the box, but dragged his shot wide.
And so the game was decided by the first penalty shoot-out of the 2022 World Cup. Beforehand there was sense that Croatia could be in a spot (ahem) of bother given that they had withdrawn the likes of Modric, Kovacic, Kramaric and even Budimir, the sub who was himself subbed.
However, Japan were immediately on the back foot after Takumi Minamino missed their first penalty and they were staring down the barrel after Mitoma also saw his spot-kick saved by Livkovic.
Croatia had converted both of their penalties to that point, courtesy of Nikola Vlasic and Marcelo Brozovic, but Marko Livaja then hit the post after Takuma Asano had got Japan off the mark in the shoot-out.
Japan needed their defensive lynchpin Maya Yoshida to convert, but the former Southampton man was again unable to find a way past Livkovic. Mario Pasalic strode forward for Croatia´s fourth penalty knowing that he could fire his nation into the quarter-finals - and he made no mistake.
💪 THE MIGHTY DELTA 🌎🏆 EDITION!
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🙏 Thanks to all of those involved; may the best team prevail!
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