Celebrations in Osijek
Croatia puts six past Azerbaijan to take the top spot
13.10.2014.
Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
Croatian national football team kept their perfect record and clean sheet in Group H. In Osijek, Niko Kovač's men claimed third victory, against Azerbaijan.
CROATIA - AZERBAIJAN 6:0 (4:0)
EURO 2016 qualifying round, Group H.
Gradski vrt Stadium, Osijek.
Referee: Stephan Studer (Switzerland)
Goalscorers: 1:0 - Kramarić (11'), 2:0 - Perišić (35'), 3:0 - Perišić (45'), 4:0 - Brozović (45+2'), 5:0 - Modrić (56' - 11m), 6:0 - Sadygov (61' - o.g.)
Yellow cards: Ramaldanov (16'), Ramazanov (37')
Croatia: Subašić, Pranjić, Ćorluka, Vida, Srna, Rakitić, Modrić (60' Modrić), Brozović, Kovačić (24' Perišić), Mandžukić i Kramarić (76' Olić). Head coach: N. Kovač.
Azerbaijan: Agayev, Qarayev (30' Ramazanov, 41' Huseynov), Allahverdiyev (67' Guliyev), Guseynov, Sadygov, Medvedev, Ramaldanov, Abdullayev, Nazarov, Amirguliyev, Aliyev. Head coach: B. Vogts.
Only three days after demanding match in Bulgaria, Croatia hosted tough Azerbaijani team and claimed another three point with an excellent performance backed by noisy support.
Rakitić missed the first opportunity, but Croatian wish to score an early goal was fulfilled by Kramarić in the 11th minute. Young striker scored after captain Srna sent in a low cross. Later on, Pranjić hit the woodwork, with Aliyev failing to convert the sole Azerbaijani chance in the first half.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
Kovačić was forced to leave the field due to injury and Perišić came on as a substitute, which proved to be one of the key points in the match. Azerbaijani coach Berti Vogts had to substitute two players in the first half due to injuries.
Set-piece in the 35th minute brought Croatia second goal, with Rakitić the provider and Perišić heading the ball past Agayev. Moreover, one more Perišić's header, after Pranjić's cross from the left side, made it 3:0 in 45th minute.
Croatia did not stop there. In added time, Modrić found Brozović, and young midfielder scored his first international goal.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
The home team scored two more in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Allahverdiyev's foul on Srna in the box provided Modrić the penalty-kick opportunity, and the Real Madrid man did not miss. Soon afterwards, Azerbaijani captain Sadygov sent the ball into his own net following Perišić's cross.
Rakitić, Kramarić and Halilović did not seize final Croatian goalscoring chances, while Nazarov's shot in the dying minutes went just outside of Subašić's post. The celebrations at Gradski vrt, both on and off the field, could commence.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
Croatia will play an international friendly against USA on 12 November in London, and four days later travels to Milan to play Italy in its fourth European qualifier.
EURO 2016 qualifying round, Group H:
Croatia - Azerbaijan 6:0
Norway - Bulgaria 2:1
Malta - Italy 0:1
1. Croatia 9 (9:0)
2. Italy 9 (5:1)
3. Norway 6 (5:3)
4. Bulgaria 3 (3:4)
5. Malta 0 (0:6)
6. Azerbaijan 0 (2:10)
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