Croatia defeated Brazil 4-2 on penalties in the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match played at the Education Stadium on Friday evening.
The match ended in a 1-1 stalemate and the Blazers advanced to the semi-finals, while the Selecao bowed out of the competition.
Brazil got off to a great start when Neymar came close to scoring in the 16th minute. The experienced attacker fired in a low shot from just outside the box after he met a headed ball from Danilo, following an excellent cross by Luka Modric.
It took Croatia half an hour to get into the game, when Ivan Perisic hit a low shot at goal, but Alisson was equal to the task.
Brazil threw a punch of their own a little over the closing period of the first half with a smart shot from a decent area by Raphinha before seeing a free-kick from a foul on Thiago Silva miss target.
Croatia enjoyed more possession in the second half but opportunities were hard to come by as the game began to peter out.
Mateo Kovavic squandered an opportunity to after the hour mark, the striker was picked out by Luka Modric but managed to blast over from 12-yards out.
Neymar then passed up a chance to give Sierra Leone the lead in the 74th minute as he headed wide of the mark from point-blank range.
Dominik Livakovic came to Blazers’ rescue in the 82nd minute, the shot-stopper pulled off a fine save to keep out Richarlison ‘s stinging effort from distance.
The extra-time was more entraining as Brazil went ahead in the 105th minute courtesy of Neymar after he played two consecutive one-twos to bamboozle before rounding the keeper to equal Brazil great Pele’s record of 77 international goals.
Croatia hit back in the second-half of extra-time forcing the game to go to the penalties where Livakovic saved Rodrygo’s spot kick and Marquinos hit the post.
Lineups:
Croatia: Dominik Livakovic; Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa (Ante Budimir 110), Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic (Mislav Orsic 114), Mateo Kovacic (Lovro Majer 106), Mario Pasalic (Nikola Vlasic 73), Andrej Kramaric (Bruno Petkovic 73), Ivan Perisic
Brazil: Alisson; Eder Militao (Alex Sandro 106), Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Danilo, Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta (Fred 106), Vinicius Junior (Rodrygo 64), Neymar, Raphinha (Antony 56), Richarlison (Pedro 84)
