Qatar 2022 Quarterfinals Match 1 Friday, December 9, 2022:
Brazil 1 vs Croatia 1
Penalties
Croatia 4 – 2 Brazil
By Gerald Lutchman
IN a total shock, Brazil were eliminated again at the quarterfinal stage.
In a match very, few gave a chance to Croatia but like in 2018 they marched on with resilience, strength and a solid man between the citadel.
I had stated that Croatia should not be underestimated and they do have the fitness and ability to go deep into any game.
It was a game of even possession Croatia had 51 % and nine shots at goal but only one on target and that was all they needed to draw the game level. Brazil peppered the Croatian with 21 shots with 11 on target but goalie Dominik Livakovic showed his mettle again.
Brazil needed their talisman Neymar to produce a wonderful effort in the 105+1 minute to take the lead. In the fifteen minutes that followed Croatia pressed and Bruno Petkovic(117th) levelled the score to send the game to penalty kicks.
Croatia are at home with spot kicks and would have felt that they had a very good chance of winning.
They scored all four and Livakovic denied Rodrygo and the woodwork took care of Marquinhos. They move on to face either Argentina or Holland in the semi-finals.
Croatia took a direct approach at Brazil and were one of the first teams to dominate possession for long periods against South Americans.
Mario Pasalic should have placed Croatia in the lead in the 13th minute but failed to put the ball in the back of the net. In the 20th Vinicius Junior was denied by Livakovic as he did again in the 25th from Danilo. Livakovicv denied Neymar in the 42nd form a free kick and at the 66th minute, he denied Lucas Paqueta.
Penalty kicks – Croatia first:
Nikola Valsic (Croatia) scores 1 -0
Rodrygo saved (Brazil) 1 -0
Lovro Majer (Croatia ) scores 2-0
Casimero ( Brazil) scores 2-1
Luka Modric (Croatia ) scores 3 -1
Pedro scores (Brazil)) 3-2
Mislav Orsic (Brazil)scores 4-2
Game over – Croatia goes to the semifinals and Brazil are out!
Croatia’s Nerves of Steel Knock Out Brazil
Qatar 2022 Quarterfinals Match 1 Friday, December 9, 2022:
By Gerald Lutchman
IN a total shock, Brazil were eliminated again at the quarterfinal stage.
In a match very, few gave a chance to Croatia but like in 2018 they marched on with resilience, strength and a solid man between the citadel.
I had stated that Croatia should not be underestimated and they do have the fitness and ability to go deep into any game.
It was a game of even possession Croatia had 51 % and nine shots at goal but only one on target and that was all they needed to draw the game level. Brazil peppered the Croatian with 21 shots with 11 on target but goalie Dominik Livakovic showed his mettle again.
Brazil needed their talisman Neymar to produce a wonderful effort in the 105+1 minute to take the lead. In the fifteen minutes that followed Croatia pressed and Bruno Petkovic(117th) levelled the score to send the game to penalty kicks.
Croatia are at home with spot kicks and would have felt that they had a very good chance of winning.
They scored all four and Livakovic denied Rodrygo and the woodwork took care of Marquinhos. They move on to face either Argentina or Holland in the semi-finals.
Croatia took a direct approach at Brazil and were one of the first teams to dominate possession for long periods against South Americans.
Mario Pasalic should have placed Croatia in the lead in the 13th minute but failed to put the ball in the back of the net. In the 20th Vinicius Junior was denied by Livakovic as he did again in the 25th from Danilo. Livakovicv denied Neymar in the 42nd form a free kick and at the 66th minute, he denied Lucas Paqueta.
Penalty kicks – Croatia first:
Game over – Croatia goes to the semifinals and Brazil are out!