Decider in 85th minute
Croatia U-21 loses the lead in England ahead of Vinkovci rematch
10.10.2014.
Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
The first act of the double play-off encounter between England U-21 and Croatia U-21 brought the hosts one-goal advantage for the return leg.
U-21: ENGLAND - CROATIA 2:1 (0:1)
European Championships 2015 play-off, first leg.
Molineux, Wolverhampton.
Referee: Javier Estrada (Spain)
Goalscorers: 0:1 - Livaja (13'), 1:1 - Kane (58'), 2:1 - Berahino (85' - 11m)
Yellow cards: Župarić (49'), Dier (69'), Pavičić (80'), Pašalić (81'), Moore (83')
England: Butland, Keane (46' Dier), Shaw, Gibson, Moore, Caskey, Carroll, Redmond, Hughes (56' Ince), Berahino, Kane. Coach: G. Southgate.
Croatia: Livaković, Župarić, Milić (89' Miloš), Datković, Mitrović, Bradarić, Pavičić, Ćorić (63' Pašalić), Pjaca, Rebić i Livaja (70' Bagarić). Coach: N. Gračan.
In the first leg of the European Championship play-offs, England beat Croatia even though Croatia managed to take the lead at Molineux.
England had more of the ball and more chances in the first half, but Croatia posed attacking danger with almost every move.
Livaja found the English net in 13th minute, with Bradarić sending a cross from a corner and Datković heading the ball in Livaja's direction. Rubin Kazan striker had no problem with finishing.
Kane threatened Livaković from the free kick, Redmond with an excellent strike from the edge of the box, Moore with a header, while Shaw hit the post in 21st minute after bursting through the left side. However, Croatian defence gained more confidence as minutes passed by, and Ćorić had two good chances to double the visitors' lead, but narrowly missed on both occasions.
Gareth Southgate's team kept pushing in the second half and was rewarded in 58th minute, when Kane headed the ball home following Berahino's cross.
Coach Gračan then introduced Pašalić and Bagarić, with the England slowing down, and Rebić and Mitrović missing good opportunities. Redmond also could not find the target, and the key moment was to happen five minutes from time.
Croatian goalkeeper Livaković clipped Berahino in his own box, and the English striker was cool from the spot. England thus secured one-goal advantage for the return leg in Vinkovci on 14 October.
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