Čanjevac secures Croatia victory with stunning goal direct from a corner

Croatia took the lead early through Janja Čanjevac in the 15th minute, scoring directly from a corner kick. Both teams created several good chances in the second half, but the score remained 1–0 in favour of the Croatian side until the final whistle.

Janja Čanjevac reflected on Croatia’s away victory over Kosovo:

“I would like to congratulate the team and the coaching staff. This is a huge victory for us, especially considering that we lost 1–0 at home and managed to bounce back away from home. Our next match is against Bulgaria, and that is another game we should win. Our full focus is now on that match.”

She also spoke about her match-winning goal scored directly from a corner:

“I honestly hope there will be another goal against Bulgaria. I’m always happy to help the team, and I hope there will be many more.”

Head coach Nenad Gračan congratulated his players after the match on an important victory:

“Congratulations to our players on this demanding match. We knew we had to win to stay in contention. The girls showed character, determination, and a strong desire to fight for the Croatian national team, and that was rewarded in the end. I regret that we slipped up in the first match, but now we have a game against Bulgaria ahead of us. We must prepare well, stay focused, and try to win so that we can return to League B. Most importantly, for those who understand the situation a little better, this is a national team that is being built. It is not easy for these girls to play matches like this. Kosovo had several players who compete for top European clubs. We often tend to underestimate opponents, but the most important thing is that we achieved what we came here for. Now we need to prepare for Tuesday.”

Croatia fielded two debutants in the starting lineup, while almost the entire squad was under the age of 23, highlighting the ongoing development of a new generation of players.

The head coach further emphasized the team-building process:

“It takes time. One generation has moved on. We spent three campaigns in that group, and now we are here, and it is not easy to get back. These are all national teams that are improving and have quality players. Every match is demanding, just like this one and the upcoming game against Bulgaria. I hope we will celebrate in front of our home supporters.”

Croatia’s next match is scheduled for Tuesday, 9 June at 7:00 PM, when they host Bulgaria at the Aldo Drosina Stadium in Pula.

Following this round, Croatia and Kosovo share first place in the group standings with 12 points each, leaving the battle for top spot completely open.

World Cup Qualifiers – League C (Group B), Round 5

1. Croatia – 12 points
2. Kosovo – 12 points
3. Bulgaria – 6 points
4. Gibraltar – 0 points

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