The deciders in November
Croatia comes back twice to earn a draw with Slovakia
11.10.2021.
Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
In the eighth qualifier on the road towards the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Croatia and Slovakia shared the spoils in Osijek (2:2).
CROATIA - SLOVAKIA 2:2 (1:2)
2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Group H.
Gradski Vrt Stadium, Osijek.
Referee: O. Hategan (Romania)
Goals: 0:1 - Schranz (20'), 1:1 - Kramarić (25'), 1:2 - Haraslin (45'), 2:2 - Modrić (71')
Cautions: Kucka (69'), Rodak (70'), Schranz (80'), Hancko (89'), Barišić (90')
Croatia: Livaković, Barišić, Vida, Gvardiol, Stanišić (67' Livaja), Brozović, Modrić, Ivanušec (46' Vlašić), Pašalić (60' Brekalo), Perišić, Kramarić (85' Sučić). Head coach: Z. Dalić.
Slovakia: Rodak, Hancko, Škriniar, Šatka, Pekarik, Hrošovsky, Haraslin (72' Koscelnik), Hamšik (41' Bero), Kucka (85' Jirka), Schranz, Almasi. Head coach: Š. Tarkovič.
Zlatko Dalić's men closed the October international window with a home tie against Slovakia, following a win at Cyprus four days ago.
It was Slovakia, however, who took the lead courtesy of a Schranz header, but just five minutes later Kramarić took advantage and found the equalizer.
In the closing minutes of the first half, the visitors were back ahead: Haraslin was left unguarded in the box and slotted home. Seconds before the break, Kramarić hit the woodwork.
Slovakia had a couple of opportunities as the second half begun, yet Croatia was intensively looking for another equalizer. It came on 71 minutes, as captain Modrić fired a free-kick through the opponents' wall.
Ten minutes from time, Vlašić seemed to score the game-winning goal, but it was disallowed for offside.
In the remaining Group H matches, Russia won at Slovenia 2:1, while Cyprus and Malta also were tied at 2:2. The qualifying campaign closes in November, when Croatia visits Malta and hosts Russia.
2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Group H:
1. Russia 19
2. Croatia 17
3. Slovakia 10
4. Slovenia 10
5. Malta 5
6. Cyprus 5
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