ZCZC
BSP-01
WC-CROATIA-RUSSIA-SNAP-RESULT
Croatia beat Russia 4-3 in tie-breaker in World Cup 2018
DHAKA, July 8, 2018 (BSS)- Title aspirants Croatia defeated Russia by 4-
3 goals in a tie-breaker to move into the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup as
the quarterfinal match ended into 2-2 goals after extra time held in the
early hour of Sunday at Fisht Olympic Stadium in Russia.
The match began at a fast pace and Croatia found Russia were playing
equally good, matching move after move.
Cheryshev sent the host nation into ecstasy with a stunning opening goal
after 31 minutes, which will be remembered as one of the best of the 2018
World Cup.
The midfielder started the move himself in the centre circle, playing a
one-two with striker Artem Dzyuba before taking a touch and unleashing a
curling left-footed shot from the edge of the area which sailed into the top
corner.
But the lead barely lasted nine minutes as Russia were undone by some
sloppy defending. Mario Mandzukic found time and space on the left to drift
into the penalty area and tee up an unmarked Kramaric to power home a header
from the edge of the six-yard box (1-1). Perisic of Croatia hits the inside
of the post when he looks destined to score in the 60th minutes of the play.
Mandzukic’s ball is not dealt with by Kudryashov and Ignashevich and the
ball falls to Perisic barely eight yards from goal saw his shot hit the
inside of the post and back across the goal to safety.
In the 72nd minutes, this time Russian fans saw Fernandes does well on
the right. He delivers the ball to Yerokhin who beats Lovren to the header
but it’s just over the bar with the rival goalkeeper beaten. The match heads
into extra time when both sides failed to break 1-1 stalemate.
In the 101 minutes, Croatia shot into lead (2-1) when Modric’s corner
kick saw Croatian centre half Vida rise high in the air nod and the ball
agonizingly travels between the Russian legs into goal.
In the 115 minutes of the play, Fernandes leaps majestically to head
past Subasic to make it 2-2 for Russia as the match heads into tie breaker.
In the tie breaker Croatia moved into semifinals as they beat Russia 4-3
in very very close affair. Croatia won their round of 16 and quarterfinals
matches in penalty shoot out. Russia’s Fernandes and Smolov’s two penalty
misses were simply dreadful. Fernandes punted his wide in bizarre fashion,
and Smolov dinked his weakly, down the middle for Subasic to stick an arm
out. Croatia will now England in the semifinal scheduled to be played on July
11 in Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
BSS/SG/SMM/MSY/0812 hrs