One goal margin

Italy sends Croatia home

04.02.2014.

Photo by: UEFA / Sportsfile

Croatia lost to Italy 2:1 in the quarterfinal stage of the UEFA Futsal EURO in Belgium.

ITALY - CROATIA 2:1 (2:1)
EURO 2014, quarterfinal stage.
Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium.

Referees: Gutierrez Lumbreras (Spain) and Sorescu (Romania)

Goalscorers: 1:0 - Romano (1'), 1:1 - Jelovčić (7'), 2:1 - Fortino (10')

Yellow cards: -

Italy: Mammarella, Gabriel Lima, Romano, Merlim, Saad; Miarelli, Ercolessi, Leggiero, Giasson, Murilo, Honorio, De Luca, Vampeta, Fortino. Head coach: R. Menichelli.

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

Croatian national futsal team could not repeat the semi-final appearance from 2012. On Tuesday, Italy won the quarterfinal match in Antwerp, Belgium.

Italy took the lead after only 46 seconds. Croatian goalie Jukić twice held the Italian attack, but third time Romano was successful.

However, Croatia struck back in the 7th minute, when Jelovčić brilliantly took on Italian defence and goalkeeper Mammarella to score a beautiful equalizer.

The deciding moment happened in the 10th minute. Vampeta assisted to Fortino, and his shot went through Jukić's legs for 2:1 lead.

In the second half, Jelovčić hit the post and Vampeta hit the bar, and Croatia once again tried to recover from one-goal deficit with the flying goalkeeper. Novak was close just a couple of seconds before the end, hitting the post.

Italy will play Portugal in the semi-finals, and Russia will play the winner of Spain - Slovenia match.

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