MATCH AGAINST UZBEKISTAN

Croatia U-17 exit the World Cup after a penalty shootout

16.11.2025.

Photo by: FIFA/Getty images

The Croatian under-17 national football team ended their FIFA World Cup campaign in Qatar with a defeat to Uzbekistan after a penalty shootout. The Round of 32 match finished 1–1, but the Uzbek players were more successful from the spot and advanced to the next stage.

CROATIA – UZBEKISTAN 1:1 (3:4 pens)
Doha (Qatar), Aspire Zone – Pitch 9
Referee: Patrice Tanguy Mebiame (Gabon)

Goals: Hasanov 24’ (0–1), Kusanović 80’ (1–1)
Penalty shootout (3:4): Pajsar – miss, Šivalec – goal, Kumar – miss, Kusanović – goal, Vojvodić – goal

CROATIA: Grahovac – Pajsar, Kumar, Jakirović, Kostelac – Slišković (46' Vojvodić), Smiljanić – Radoš (46' N. Horvat), Benkotić (46' Burcar), P. Horvat (77' Šivalec) – Kusanović

UZBEKISTAN: Shokirov (87' Rustamjonov) – Musakhonov, Hakimov, Bahodirkhonov, Anvarov (87' Saidmurodov) – Hasanov, Erimbetov, Shukurulayev (77' Habibulayev), Abdumuminov – Sodikov, Sarsenbayev (60' Aliev)

In the opening minutes, neither side created significant chances, with Croatia dealing well with several Uzbek attacks, thanks in particular to strong interventions from goalkeeper Matej Grahovac. However, Uzbekistan took the lead in the 24th minute, when Hasanov scored with a precise close-range header.

In the second half Croatia gradually increased the pressure. In the 75th minute Andrija Burcar threatened from a free kick, but lacked accuracy. Just five minutes later, the equaliser arrived: after a cross from Burcar, Gabrijel Šivalec took the first shot, and the rebound was turned into the net by Tino Kusanović to make it 1–1.

With the score unchanged through stoppage time, the match was decided by a penalty shootout. The Uzbek players were more precise, winning 4–3 overall.

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