Two equalizers for Croatia
Drmić and Olić secure draw in Switzerland
05.03.2014.
Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
International friendly in St. Gallen ended in a draw, with both Croatia and Switzerland scoring twice.
SWITZERLAND - CROATIA 2:2 (2:1)
AFG Arena, St. Gallen.
International friendly.
Referee: Hugo Miguel (Portugal)
Goalscorers: 1:0 - Drmić (34'), 1:1 - Olić (39'), 2:1 - Drmić (41'), 2:2 - Olić (54')
Yellow cards: Lichtsteiner (42'), Srna (79'), Olić (86')
Switzerland: Benaglio, Rodriguez, Von Bergen, Djourou, Lichtsteiner (62' Lang), Inler (62' Džemaili), Behrami (46' Schwegler), Stocker (79' Barnetta), Xhaka (79' Gavranović), Shaqiri (46' Mehmedi), Drmić. Head coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Croatia: Subašić, Srna, Ćorluka, Lovren (56' Schildenfeld), Pranjić, Rakitić (88' Vukojević), Maleš (56' Modrić), Perišić (75' Milić), Kovačić (56' Eduardo), Olić, Jelavić (46' Mandžukić). Head coach: Niko Kovač.
In the first preparation match for the World Cup in Brazil, Niko Kovač's Croatia faced Ottmar Hitzfeld's Switzerland.
Croatia threatened for the first time through Perišić in 15th minute, and after half an hour of play, Switzerland was combining well and Xhaka tried from distance, while Drmić missed a good opportunity.
It was the young Swiss striker who scored in 34th minute, after beating Ćorluka and striking past Subašić from the edge of the box.
Croatia responded in five minutes, when Olić was left unguarded in front of Benaglio's goal after Rakitić's corner. However, Switzerland retook the lead even faster. Drmić found himself at the end of a long ball and beat Subašić again.
At the beginning of the second half Xhaka tried once more, and goalscoring duel Drmić - Olić was tied in 54th minute, when Kovačić sent Olić through, and Wolfsburg striker neatly put the ball in the very corner of the Swiss net.
Kovač introduced several players from the bench in the second half and Croatia had a couple of chances. Eduardo in 64th and Ćorluka in 75th minute came close to scoring the winner, but the match ended in a draw.
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