Croatia on Monday night won the penalty shootout 3-1 over Japan, qualifying it for the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals.
Japan entered the pitch as one of the great surprises of this World Cup, having been first in a group that included former world champions Spain and Germany.
In a very balanced match, the Japanese were always very organized and looking to exploit the error of a Croatia that was unable to translate its apparent dominance of the match into goal opportunities.
Thus, it was even the Asian team that went ahead on the scoreboard already on top of the break. In the 43rd minute, a short corner took the ball to the area where it ended up being left to Daizen Maeda who did not forgive and took the Japanese in advantage for the break.
In the second half, Croatia tried to react and ended up reaching a tie ten minutes into the second half. Lovren’s cross on the right and Ivan Perisic appearing in the past and heading for the equalizer.
Until the end of the 90 minutes, the match remained divided, with opportunities from both sides. Given this balance, it was not surprising that the match reached extra time, the first of this World Cup.
In extra time, the 90 minutes remained, Croatia with greater game initiative and Japan looking to launch quick attacks and benefit from the speed of their attacking front. Thus, and given the almost non-existence of goal opportunities, the game ended up being decided through a penalty shoot-out.
From eleven meters the Croatians turned out to be more competent and won by 3-1. Highlight for Livakovich who stopped three penalties.
Croatia manages to overcome another tie after 90 minutes, the sixth consecutive with this outcome. The world runners-up will face Brazil in the quarterfinals.
