Croatia oust favorites Brazil 4-2 on penalties to reach semi-final

AL RAYYAN, Dec 9 – Croatia battled previous match favourites Brazil 4-2 on penalties on Friday to succeed in the World Cup semi-finals following a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.

The 2018 runners-up got here by means of their second consecutive shootout after beating Japan additionally on penalties within the final 16 and can now face both the Netherlands or Argentina who play one another later.

In a night crammed with pressure and drama, Brazil celebrity Neymar thought he had gained the sport when he rifled in an extra-time objective for the five-time world champions.

Croatia substitute Bruno Petkovic’s left-footed equaliser three minutes from the tip of additional time drew his aspect degree, breaking Brazilian hearts in Doha’s Education City Stadium.

The Croats stored their composure from the penalty spot as Brazil’s Marquinhos and Rodrygo didn’t convert.

Croatia initially refused to be intimidated by their extra illustrious opponents and within the first half efficiently stifled most Brazil strikes early.

Apart from a weak Vinicius Jr. shot, Brazil had little else to supply by way of assault with Neymar off the tempo and shut out by a hard-working backline.

It was Croatia who appeared sharper, extra expert of their passing sport and with a exact sport plan, and by the tip of the primary half that they had the higher hand by way of possession.

A Neymar free kick simply earlier than the break didn’t hassle Croatia keeper Dominik Livakovic because the Brazilians, whose final win over a European opponent within the knockout part got here of their 2002 last victory over Germany, struggled to seek out any area.

They did, nevertheless, nearly take the lead three minutes after the restart when Josko Gvardiol tried to clear the ball however nearly turned it into his personal objective.

Seconds later, claims for a hand ball by defender Josip Juranovic had been shot down following a VAR evaluate earlier than Neymar was despatched by means of by Richarlison within the fifty fifth minute solely to have his close-range effort blocked by Livakovic.

The Brazilians, who’ve now misplaced 4 of their final 5 World Cup quarter-finals all to European opposition, loved a a lot better begin to the second half and got here shut once more within the 66th when Lucas Paqueta was denied by Livakovic.

The Croatia keeper was stored busy and stopped Neymar within the 76th and by that point had extra saves within the match (seven) than his Brazil counterpart, Alisson, had in your entire match (5).

Livakovic parried one other Paqueta shot 5 minutes later because the few hundred Brazil followers within the stands grew louder and extra impatient and the sport trickled over to further time with Brazil coach Tite visibly nervous.

In stoppage time of the primary interval, Neymar, largely lacklustre till then, launched an assault exterior the field, performed two consecutive one-twos to bamboozle the drained Croatian defence after which rounded the keeper to equal Brazil nice Pele’s report of 77 worldwide targets.

But the Croats refused to give up with Petkovic’s equaliser forcing penalties and popping out on prime within the shootout with Livakovic saving Rodrygo’s spot kick and Marquinos hitting the submit.

-Reuters