The same scenario

Flying goalkeeper Capar again the hero for Croatia

31.01.2014.

Photo by: UEFA / Sportsfile

Croatia won its second point at the UEFA Futsal Euro. The match versus the Czech Republic again ended in a 3:3 draw, and the equalizer was once again scored by the flying goalkeeper Capar in the final minutes.

CROATIA - CZECH REPUBLIC 3:3 (2:1)
EURO 2014, Group D.
Lotto Arena, Antwerp, Belgium.

Referees: Shabanov (Russia) and Birkett (England)

Goalscorers: 0:1 - Novotny (9'), 1:1 - Jelovčić (14'), 2:1 - Marinović (16'), 2:2 - Mareš (21'), 2:3 - Belej (24'), 3:3 - Capar (39')

Yellow cards: Suton (12'), Jelovčić (14'), Novotny (18'), Babić (27'), Matošević (28'), Frič (32'), Grcić (35'), Novak (35'), Jukić (35')

Croatia: Jukić, Novak, Jelovčić, Marinović, Suton; Stojkić, Capar, Grbeša, Protega, Matošević, Duvančić, Pavić, Babić. Head coach: M. Stanković.

Czech Republic: Gerčak, Cupak, R. Mareš, Rešetar, Slovaček; Zdansky, Novotny, Oliva, Frič, Kovacs, Rodek, Seidler, Slama, Belej. Head coach: T. Neumann.

Two days after the epic match with the Spaniards and a 3:3 draw, Croatia took on Czech Republic and came very close to the quarterfinal berth.

First to rejoice were the Czech, after a several missed chances on both sides. Novotny broke through from the left and beat Jukić in Croatian goal.

However, Stanković's men then turned the tide. Excellent Marinović's corner in the 14th minute found unguarded Jelovčić, who equalized the score. Two minutes later, a brilliant Croatian counterattack by Novak and Marinović was finished by Marinović himself, standing in front of the open net.

Croatia came near the third, but once again went to the half-time break with the 2:1 advantage.

Mareš made sure that didn't last long in the second half, equalizing after only 28 seconds with a bit of Jukić's assistance, and Marinović soon missed a glorious opportunity for Croatia to regain the lead. The penalty was swift: in the 24th minute, Belej was left alone near the post and put another ball in the Croatia net.

Jelovčić and Suton then both failed to score twice, while Novak hit the post. Czech Republic then got the after the Croatia's sixth foul, but Jukić stopped Kovacs, then Seidler.

In the end, flying goalkeeper was required and Capar was ready for his role, as it was the case against Spain on Wednesday. A minute and a half before the final whistle, after a patient build-up, Capar was at the right place to score and save the day for Croatia.

Copyright by Croatian Football Federation. Quoting text from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to HNS as a source and providing direct link to the original content at hns.family. Re-use of the photographs is not permitted.