World Cup 2022: Japan 1-1 Croatia (1-3 on pens): Dominik Livakovic saves three penalties

Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was the hero, saving three penalties within the shootout, as Croatia edged previous Japan with a 3-1 victory to succeed in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Zlatko Dalic’s aspect, overwhelmed within the remaining by France 4 years in the past, will face match favourites Brazil or South Korea within the subsequent spherical on Friday (15:00 GMT).

Japan had been the livelier aspect and took a deserved lead two minutes earlier than half-time when Celtic ahead Daizen Maeda transformed from Yoshida’s knock down.

Croatia levelled within the second half courtesy of Ivan Perisic’s good bullet header from Dejan Lovren’s cross, turning into his nation’s all-time main scorer at main tournaments with 10 objectives.

Neither aspect may discover a breakthrough and the sport ticked into the extra half-hour, with Brighton midfielder Kaoru Mitoma’s spectacular strike pushed over by Livakovic.

On the different finish, Marko Livaja’s flicked header looping in, however Shuichi Gonda managed to collect and Lovro Majer dragged a shot within the a hundred and twentieth minute.

The competition went to nerve-shredding penalties, the place Livakovic emerged as the person to guide Croatia’s celebrations.

Skilled Croatia finish Japan’s dream

Croatia simply know get it executed.

In 2018, after they virtually lifted the trophy, they emerged from further time with a win in every of their knockout video games earlier than dropping within the remaining.

Of their final eight knockout video games on the World Cup and Euros, seven have gone to further time except their match in opposition to France.

They failed to attain in two of their three group video games however have demonstrated their huge expertise to progress to the final eight.

It did not begin properly although, as Shogo Taniguchi got here near netting for Japan in solely the third minute however flicked his header broad.

Daichi Kamada was trying to end off a slick workforce transfer however ended up skewing his shot out for a throw-in from six yards out. They obtained the breakthrough courtesy of Maeda’s poaching effort from shut vary.

Croatia, although, hit again by Perisic’s header as he moved previous Davor Suker’s 9 objectives at main tournaments. Solely the legendary striker has scored extra worldwide objectives for the nation, with 45 to Perisic’s 33.

The Tottenham participant may have netted when Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu’s miscued a backpass, which allowed his north London rival to run in on purpose, however a shot from the angle was batted out by Gonda.

Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic hooked broad and Luka Modric’s dipping effort was pushed over by Gonda at full stretch.

Croatia wanted somebody to face up and Livakovic stopped efforts from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Yoshida to develop into simply the third goalkeeper to avoid wasting three penalties in a shootout on the World Cup.

For Japan, their dream got here to finish on the spherical of 16 as soon as extra, failing to progress past this stage in all 4 World Cup appearances.

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