Brazil first, Mexico second
Defeat in Recife: Croatia's World Cup exit
23.06.2014.
Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
Croatian national football team failed to qualify for the World Cup second round after losing to Mexico in the third match in Group A.
CROATIA - MEXICO 1:3 (0:0)
World Cup, Group A.
Arena Pernambuco, Recife.
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Goalscorers: 0:1 - Marquez (72'), 0:2 - Guardado (75'), 0:3 - Hernandez (82'), 1:3 - Perišić (87')
Yellow cards: Rakitić (9'), Marquez (39'), Vazquez (66')
Red card: Rebić (89')
Croatia: Pletikosa, Vrsaljko (58' Kovačić), Lovren, Ćorluka, Srna, Pranjić (74' Jelavić), Rakitić, Modrić, Perišić, Olić (69' Rebić), Mandžukić. Head coach: N. Kovač.
Mexico: Ochoa, Rodriguez, Marquez, Moreno, Aguilar, Layun, Vazquez, Herrera, Guardado (84' Fabian), Dos Santos (62' Hernandez), Peralta (79' Pena). Head coach: M. Herrera.
Seeking the win that would secure a place in the next round, Croatia faced Mexico in Recife, but lost at Arena Pernambuco 3:1.
Mexico almost took the lead after 15 minutes, when Herrera hit the crossbar, with Peralta missing an opportunity soon afterwards. In the first half, Croatia was trying from the distance, but Pranjić, Perišić and Srna could not find the target.
In a ten-minute period in the second half, Mexico crushed Croatian hopes. Captain Marquez's header in the 72nd minute and Guardado strike after a quick counterattack three minutes later gave Mexico two-goal lead.
Hernandez made it 3:0 after another successful Mexico corner, only for Perišić to score a consolation goal in the 87th minute, with Rakitić assisting him. Mexico goalkeeper Ochoa stopped another Perišić effort in added time, and Croatia finished the match with ten men. Rebić was sent off in 89th minute.
Brazil beat Cameroon 4:1, won Group A and will play Chile in the last 16. Mexico will face Netherlands.
World Cup, Group A:
1. Brazil 7 (7:2)
2. Mexico 7 (4:1)
3. Croatia 3 (6:6)
4. Cameroon 0 (1:9)
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