World Cup opener
Croatia level with Chile: "A good start"
18.10.2015.
Photo by: Getty Images
Croatia shared the spoils with host nation Chile in the Opening Match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
U-17: CHILE - CROATIA 1:1 (1:1)
FIFA U-17 World Cup, Group A.
National Stadium Julio Martines Prodanos, Santiago.
Referee: Abdulrahman Al Jassim (Qatar)
Goals: 0:1 - Moro (8'), 1:1 - Leiva (33')
Yellow cards: Babić (24'), Leiva (31'), Moya (44'), Saavedra (50'), Moro (76'),
Chile: Lopez, Monilla (7' Soriano), Gonzalez, Saavedra, Jara, Leiva, Mazuela (62' Ponce), Allende, Moya, Diaz (73' Melendez), Soto. Head coach: M. Ponce.
Croatia: Šemper, Sosa, Erlić, Kalaica, Soldo, Brekalo, Đurasek (90+1' Ivanušec), Moro, Lovren, Šverko (74' Hudećek), Babić (46' Majić). Head coach: D. Bašić.
Despite the loud support from the Chileans, young Croatians took the lead early in the match, with captain Nikola Moro finding the net from the rebound in the eighth minute.
Foto: Getty Images
However, the hosts did manage to score the equalizer in 33rd minute, when Leiva fired past Croatian goalkeeper Šemper.
Foto: Getty Images
Both teams had the opportunities to score the winner, but the match finally ended in a 1:1 draw. Croatia faces USA on the second day in Group A, while Chile faces Nigeria, who beat USA 2:0.
Foto: Getty Images
"The match was as difficult as we expected. We faced a good local team, that plays well technically and had a massive support of their fans. That might have impacted my players a little bit, and that could be why we did not play as well as we expected. Yet, the main objective for us in the opening game was not to lose. Thus, it is a good start and we are still in play in what it is for me the toughest group of the tournament", said Croatia U-17 head coach Dario Bašić speaking for Fifa.com after the match.
Foto: Getty Images
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