FIFA World Cup 2018: European teams keep their slate clean, Croatia beats Nigeria 2-0
On a day of penalties, both missed and converted, teams from Europe kept their slates clean to stay ahead of their opponents from Africa, South America and Asia.
With a 2-0 win over Nigeria in the last match of day 3, Croatia moved to top of the table, ahead of Argentina, Iceland and Nigeria.
Though both Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Christian Cueva (Peru) messed their penalty awards, Luka Medic of Croatia had a lesson for others with a kick that had the Nigerian goalkeeper going the wrong way.
The African qualifiers Nigeria, who could not settle down in the game today, also had the misfortune of conceding "own" goal. Though it was not that bad as the header of Aziz Bouhaddouz of Morocco against Iran yesterday, but it was as damaging as it could be. When the Croatian Mario headed goal wards, the ball that was slightly off the mark was directed into goal by Nigeria's Ekebo.The first goal came in the 32nd minute.
And it was the second successive goal the Nigerians conceded in the World Cup. The last one was in 2014 World Cup against France.
In the 71st minute when Croatia got its first penalty, Luka Mauvic made no mistake to give his team full three points from the game.
Both Croatia and Nigeria were playing each other for the first time in World Cup. And it was Croatia's second win in last eight games in the elite tournament.
Though Nigeria has qualified for the sixth time, it failed to impress with its young team.
