Response of personality and talent

Second draw for Croatia U-17: "Luck was not on our side"

21.10.2015.

Photo by: Getty Images

Croatia U17 earned a second point at World Cup in Chile, conceding twice in the first half and scoring twice after the restart, and missing a bit of luck in the end.

U-17: USA - CROATIA 2:2 (2:0)
FIFA U-17 World Cup, Group A.
Estadio Sausalito, Vina del Mar.

Referee: E. Caceres (Paraguay)

Goals: 1:0 - C. Pulisic (20'), 2:0 - Vazquez (40'), 2:1 - Majić (65'), 2:2 - Ivanušec (77')

Yellow cards: Kalaica (25')

USA: W. Pulisic, Nelson, Arellano, De la Torre (83' Wright), C. Pulisic, Perez (68' Calvillo), Barbir, McCabe, Adams, Vazquez (75' Gallardo), Zendejas. Head coach: R. Williams.

Croatia: Šemper, Sosa, Erlić (44' Ivanušec), Kalaica, Soldo, Brekalo, Đurasek (44' Đira), Majić (83' Babić), Moro, Lovren, Šverko. Head coach: D. Bašić.

Following the 1:1 draw with Chile in the FIFA U17 World Cup Opening Match, Dario Bašić's men found themselves two goals behind in the match against USA on Tuesday.

Pulisic and Vazquez secured a 2:0 lead for the USA at halftime, but young Croatians found their way back.

Karlo Igor Majić hit the target from the rebound in the 65th minute, while substitute Ivanušec capitalized on Brekalo's assist in the 77th minute to make it 2:2.

Moreover, Croatia has hit the woodwork three times in the closing minutes.

"If you offered the draw at half time, I would have taken it. But after how we played the second half, we deserved the victory. In the first time we defended poorly and they scored two goals out of three shoots, but we had our chances. Then we asked for the heart of our players and they responded with personality and also with talent. Either you believe or not in luck, today it was not on our side", said Croatia head coach Dario Bašić speaking to FIFA.com after the match.

Group A:
1. Nigeria 6
2. Croatia 2
3. Chile 1
4. USA 1

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