Croatian Keeper Makes 3 Saves in Penalty Shoot-out to beat Denmark
FIFA World Cup: Croatia beat Denmark 3-2 on penalties to reach the quarter-finals.
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- Croatia beat Denmark 3-2 on penalties after the match was tied at 1-1 post extra time.
- Mathias Jorgensen opened the scoring in the 57th second, Denmark’s fastest World cup goal. Mathias Jorgensen equalised in the fourth minute.
- Five minutes before the end of extra time, Luka Modric had his penalty saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
- Croatia now faces Russia in the quarter-final.
Two goals in the opening four minutes of the game then a dry spell till the end of extra-time and then a nail-biting penalty shoot-out, had fans on the edge of their seats during the Croatia vs Denmark Round of 16 match on Sunday night.
Croatia though came out on top, courtesy three stellar saves by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic in the 3-2 shoot-out win.
Croatia could have wrapped up the result five minutes from the end of extra time but Luka Modric had his penalty saved by Kasper Schmeichel as a largely pedestrian match produced a pulsating finish.
However, the Croatia captain returned to bravely take one of the post-match kicks as goalkeeper Danijel Subasic saved three of Denmark's efforts to set up a quarter-final meeting with hosts Russia, who also won in a penalty shoot-out earlier on Sunday against Spain after a 1-1 draw.
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It was Modric's sublime pass that put Ante Rebic through on goal, before being brought down by Mathias Jorgensen, and offered Croatia a chance to win just before the shoot-out.
But with only five minutes left, Schmeichel made a smart save to keep the 1-1 stalemate intact.
Two chaotic goals in the opening four minutes made for a rollicking start at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. However, it proved a false dawn as the spectacle faded with both sides choosing caution as their priority given the rare chance to reach the last eight.
Jorgensen took all of 57 seconds to breach the Croatia defence at the end of a long throw-in by Jonas Knudsen, stabbing at the ball with his left foot as he took it off team mate Thomas Delaney.
Subasic got a hand to Jorgensen's toe-poke but effectively deflected the ball across his own line.
There was an element of comedy to the fourth-minute equaliser for Mario Mandzukic as Denmark's early advantage quickly disappeared.
A kick across the Danish defence was firmly hit away by Henrik Dalsgaard but straight into the face of team mate Andreas Christensen, creating a pinball effect that saw the ball fall for Mandzukic, who then expertly turned it into the net from close range.
The anticipated influence of Christian Eriksen for the Danes and Croatia's Modric held out hopes of more mouth-watering action but their craft was only evident in patches.
Eriksen did shave the top of the woodwork just before halftime with a speculative effort while, at the other end, Ivan Rakitic forced a smart save from Schmeichel.
After the interval, the chances were even more sparse although Croatia did up the tempo towards the end of regulation time only to run into a resolute Denmark defence.
In extra time, Knudsen's long throws proved the most dangerous attacking weapon but eventually it was penalties that delivered a winner.
"It's a strange feeling. Huge disappointment. But also enormous pride about our team," said Schmeichel.
"I think today we had the opportunity. I think we were the better team in the second half and the extra time.
"I don't think we had any luck. I don't think the referee liked us today. It is difficult to accept and put into words. There are many emotions right now."
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