Croatia managed to win an important victory to secure the opportunity to qualify for the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup Qatar.
Croatia won a landslide victory 4-1 when they eliminated Canada in the Group F match on Sunday, 27 November 2022.
In this article, SportReviews will summarize the match summary quoted from the official FIFA website.
The team made by Zlatko Dalic was surprised by Alphonso Davies’ goal.
At that time, the match at the Khalifa International Stadium had only been running for two minutes.
However, Hoffenheim striker Andrei Kramaric was able to equalize.
Marko Livaja added to the advantage of the 2018 World Cup runners-up before halftime.
Second-half goals from Kramaric and Lovro Majer ensured Croatia picked up their first win of the tournament.
Previously, in the first match, they were only able to play a goalless draw against Morocco.
At the start of the match, John Herdman’s Canadian team only needed 68 seconds to rock Croatia.
Tajon Buchanan managed to cross into the Croatian penalty area.
Davies perfectly met with a header past keeper Dominik Livakovic from close range.
Canada’s first goal at this World Cup was redemption for Davies.
Previously, the Bayern Munich star’s penalty was saved by Thibaut Courtois when they lost to Belgium.
The record for the fastest goal so far at the 2022 World Cup has not dampened Croatia’s enthusiasm.
They began to build motivation to win the game.
With Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic pulled far forward.
The passing of the ball and the quick movement of the Croatian players gradually started to make an impact on Canada until there was an equalizing goal in the 36th minute.
The goal started when Kramaric received feedback from Ivan Perisic in the Canadian defense area.
He gave a touch for a moment before releasing a sharp kick into the far corner of the Canadian goal.
The second goal was created through the feet of striker Hajduk Split Livaja who was chosen to replace Nikola Vlasic.
Livaja was able to repay Dalic’s trust with a goal in the 44th minute.
The attack that was built through Josip Juranovic was blocked by the Canadian defender outside the penalty area.
However, Livaja was able to pounce on a loose ball and nimbly sent a neat low shot past Milan goalkeeper Borjan.
Going into the second half, Canadian substitute Jonathan Osorio had a golden opportunity when he fired a long-range shot just inches off the bar.
A number of golden opportunities were created by both teams but were successfully countered by their respective goalkeepers.
Borjan was able to hold off Kramaric’s close-range shot from the right,
Before Jonathan David’s kick was also pushed over from close range by Livakovic.
Kramaric delivered a killer blow with a goal that was created in the 70th minute.
Perisic’s cross met Kramaric in the Canadian penalty area and he took advantage of the tight space to finish with his left foot and the ball flew through the legs of Atiba Hutchinson into the bottom corner.
Majer’s goal completed Croatia’s victory after taking advantage of Mislav Orsic’s pass in added time, quoted contentPedia from the AFP page.
This result makes Croatia now sit at the top of Group F, based on goal difference.
A draw in their last game against Belgium on Thursday has guaranteed them a place in the last 16.
