Croatia players celebrate after winning the penalty shootout during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Japan and Croatia on December 05, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar. , Photo Credit: Getty Images
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Kivakovic saved penalties from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida before Mario Pasalic scored a spot-kick to win Japan 3-1 in the shootout on Monday and reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
With the score deadlocked at 1-1 after an absorbing 90 minutes, Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma went closest in the half-hour of extra time, forcing Kivakovic to parry his powerful drive away.
Daichi Kamada fired home after Japan’s counter-attack before Daizan Maeda put them ahead in the 43rd minute, Ritsu Doan slotting home from close range after delivering an in-swinging cross into the penalty area. Firing.
Croatia forward Ivan Perisic, who was denied by Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda in the opening minutes, pulled level 10 minutes into the second half after meeting Dejan Lovren’s cross with a powerful header.
Croatia will face either Brazil or South Korea in the quarter-finals.
Daizen Maeda scored from a short corner just before the break to give Japan a 1-0 halftime lead in their World Cup last-16 match against Croatia on Monday.
Maeda connected with Ritsu Doon’s cross to break the deadlock in the 43rd minute as the sides battled for the right to meet either Brazil or South Korea in the quarter-finals, which will be played later on Monday.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu on Monday brought in Takahiro Tomiyasu to replace the suspended Itakura for their FIFA World Cup last-16 match against Croatia.
Itakura had received his second yellow card of the tournament in Japan’s stunning upset of Spain in their final group match, so Tomiyasu, who has made two appearances off the bench as he struggles to avoid an injury, starts.
Moriyasu brought Wataru Endo and Ritsu Doan back into his midfield at the expense of Takefusa Kubo and Ao Tanaka, who scored against Spain.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić made two changes to his largely settled starting line-up, bringing on Borna Barisic at left back for Borna Sosa and Bruno Petkovic in midfield for Marko Livaja.
teams
Japan (3-4-3):
Shuchi Gonda; Takahiro Tomiyasu, Maya Yoshida (c), Shogo Taniguchi; Junya Ito, Wataru Endo, Hidemasa Morita, Yuto Nagatomo; Ritsu Don, Daichi Kamada, Daigen Maeda
coach: Hajime Moriyasu (JPN)
Croatia (4-3-3):
Dominic Livacovich; Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Guardiol, Borna Baricic; Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric (Captain), Marcelo Brozovic; Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, Bruno Petkovic
coach: Zlatko Dalić (CRO)
Ref: Ismail Elfath (USA)
(with inputs from agencies)