Croatia rating late extra-time equaliser then win penalty shootout to upset the favourites Brazil.
Croatia has knocked match favourites Brazil out of the World Cup, beating the five-time champions 4-2 in a penalty shootout within the quarterfinals after the rating was even after 120 minutes.
The 2018 runners-up got here by their second consecutive shootout after beating Japan additionally on penalties within the final 16 and can now face both the Netherlands or Argentina who play one another later.
In a night crammed with rigidity and drama, Brazil famous person Neymar thought he had gained the sport when he rifled in an extra-time objective for the five-time world champions.
However as a substitute of defending their lead they went seeking a second and had been punished when Croatia substitute Bruno Petkovic drilled in a left-footed equaliser three minutes from the tip of extra-time, breaking Brazilian hearts.
By way of a tense opening half on the Schooling Metropolis Stadium on Friday, there was nothing to separate match favourites Brazil and Croatia, with each side having fun with half probabilities in a free-flowing recreation, however nothing clear-cut.
If something, Croatia loved one of the best probability of the half, when, after 13 minutes, Ivan Perisic may solely miss-cue a whipped Mario Pasalic cross previous Alisson’s goalpost.
The Brazilians, who've now misplaced 4 of their final 5 World Cup quarter-finals – all to European opposition, loved a significantly better begin to the second half and got here shut once more within the 66th when Lucas Paqueta was denied by Livakovic.
Claims for a handball by defender Josip Juranovic had been shot down following a VAR evaluate earlier than Neymar was despatched by by Richarlison within the fifty fifth minute solely to have his close-range effort blocked by Livakovic.
The Croatia keeper was saved busy and stopped Neymar once more within the 76th minute, and by that point had extra saves within the match, seven, than his Brazil counterpart, Alisson, had in your complete match, 5.
Livakovic parried one other Paqueta shot 5 minutes later because the few hundred Brazil followers within the stands grew louder and extra impatient and the sport trickled over to further time with Brazil coach Tite visibly nervous.
After a scoreless 90 minutes, Brazil took a 1-0 lead with a bit of additional time solo magic from Neymar.
He launched an assault outdoors the field, performed two consecutive one-twos to bamboozle the drained Croatian defence after which rounded the keeper to equal Brazil nice Pele’s report of 77 worldwide targets as Brazil’s all-time main scorer.
However gritty Croatia refused to give up, and equalised when Bruno Petkovic scored within the 117th.
They then got here out on prime within the shootout with Livakovic saving Rodrygo’s spot kick and Marquinos hitting the publish, leaving Neymar and his teammates in tears.
Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Luka Modric and Mislav Orsic transformed all 4 penalties taken by Croatia, who're dreaming of their first world title.
They may subsequent face both Argentina or the Netherlands who play later tonight.
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