Summary
Croatia’s Round of 16 clash with Denmark at the Nizhny Novgorod stadium on Sunday went to extra time at 1-1 with two goals in the first four minutes being the high-point of the exciting game. Croatia emerged winners after converting three of their five spot kicks to advance 4-3 to the quarter finals of the World Cup on penalties.
Huddersfield centre-half Mathias Jorgensen gave Denmark the lead 61 seconds into the game after squeezing off a shot which should have been saved by the fumbling Danijel Subasic. A cross from the right met a haphazard clearance into the face of Andreas Christensen and Mario Mandzukic was handy to miscue a shot into the corner for the equaliser. Despite conceding that early equaliser, the Danes contained the Croats well in midfield and through the first half they probably created more chances than against any of their three previous opponents. Luka Modric missed a penalty in extra time to the delight of the Danish fans as both sides settled for penalties to decide who goes through to meet Russia in the quarterfinals.
It was a story of misses during the ensuing shootout as half the penalties were missed between both teams but Luka Modric made up for his earlier miss before Rakitic tucked away the final penalty to send Croatia through. Danijel Subasic saved three spot-kicks, including the opener from Christian Eriksen. Subasic equals the World Cup record for most saves in a shoot-out, equaling the mark set by Portugal’s Ricardo against England in 2006.
Moments
2′ Croatia 0-1 Denmark. A long throw causes chaos in the Croatia penalty area and Mathias Jorgensen scrambles the ball over the line.
4′ Croatia 1-1 Denmark. Denmark fails to clear a ball played in from the right and Mario Mandzukic reacts first to crash it home.
27′ Christian Eriksen carves the opponent’s defense open with a killer through-ball for Martin Braithwaite who found himself in a great scoring position but Danijel Subasic denied him with a great save
29′ Opportunity wasted. Ivan Perisic has a wonderful chance to score but somehow miskicks completely.
39′ Attempt missed. Luka Modric crosses the ball into the box from the free kick and Dejan Lovren sends a header inches wide.
42′ Close attempt! So nearly a goal by Christian Eriksen but his finish hits the post!
45′ Good effort by Ivan Rakitic as he directs a shot on target, but the keeper saves it
72′ Good effort by Nicolai Joergensen as he directs a shot on target, but the keeper saves it
84′ Ivan Perisic heads Josip Pivaric’s cross from a freekick a bit too high.
92′ Attempt missed. Ivan Rakitic’s right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
99′ Nicolai Jørgensen heads down to Lasse Schöne whose shot from outside the box misses target.
116′ Luka Modric fails to convert a late penalty after Mathias Joergensen charges Ante Rebic from behind in the box
120′ Denmark are knocked out by Croatia in penalty shootout!
Round 1: Denmark’s Eriksen and Croatia’s Badelj are denied by Subasic and Schmeichel respectively
Round 4: Subasic goes in the right direction to save Schone’s (Denmark) spot kick
Pivaric gets the chance to put Croatia in front, but his left-footed drive is well read by Schmeichel
Round 5: Subasic makes his third save to deny Denmark’s Jorgensen
Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic makes no mistake from the spot as he sends Schmeichel the wrong way to seal The Blazers’ victory
Match Stats
Player Ratings
Lineup
