FIFA World Cup 2018:Penalties see Croatia through
In a day of pulsating soccer that witnessed early goals, extra time and penalties after penalty saw Croatia through to quarter finals in the FIFA World Cup 2018 on Sunday.
Failing to score from a penalty in the dying moments of the extra time, Croatia has every reason to celebrate for its decisive superiority over its European opponents Denmark in the second penalty shoot out of the day. Croatia's 3=2 win in the penalty shootout was not without its usual drama as Luka Mudric, who failed to score from the penalty that came Croatia's way in the last minute of extra time scored.
In the fifth and last round of penalties, when Nicolai Jorgensen of Denmark saw his attempt thwarted, all eyes turned to Ivan Rakitic who stayed cool and calm to take the decisive shot that Kasper Schmeichel could not block.
After making a dream start with a goal in the opening minute by Mathias Jangensen, Denmark ended the day, crestfallen, with all players in tears. Not only that Jorgensen who had scored the first goal, ended with a yellow card, as he was penalised for bringing down Croatian striker. The resultant penalty was muffed by Croatian Luka Modric was different story.
A goal in arear in the opening minute, Croatia hit back with a goal from Mario Mandzukic in the fourth minute. Perhaps, it was unprecedented, two goals in first four minutes of a match in the knock out stage of the World Cup.
After opening goal and subsequent equaliser, the game witnessed no goal for next 106 minutes of stipulated period besides the injury time.
Interesting, Croatia's striker Ivan Perisic had a record six shots at the goal but failed to score once. It was for the first time since 1998 that Croatia had made it to the knock out stage after winning all three games in group matches.
Croatia will now play the hosts, Russia, who also progressed to quarter finals after a penalty shoot out against another European team and 2010 World Cup champion Spain. Teams of the erstwhile East Bloc were winners on the second day of the knock out round of the FIFA World Cup 2018.
