Croatia knocked out Japan 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Al Janoub Stadium to move into the quarterfinals and will face either Brazil in a quarterfinal on Friday.
Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three penalty kicks on Monday in Croatia’s 3-1 win over Japan in a shootout, securing a return to the quarterfinals for the runner-up in the 2018 men’s tournament.
On its run to the final four years ago, Croatia needed extra time in each round in the knockout stage, and twice came through a penalty shootout.
This time, Mario Pasalic converted the clinching penalty for Croatia after the teams were tied at 1-1 after extra time in Al Wakrah, Qatar.
Livakovic saved penalties from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitomo and Maya Yoshida, and it was the Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper who took most of the acclaim from the jubilant Croatia team after the shootout.
Mario Pasalic struck the winning penalty to send Croatia through after Ivan Perisic had pulled Croatia level in the 55th minute of normal time following Daizen Maeda’s opener for Japan just before the break.
Four years after their stunning World Cup run in Russia, Croatia is looking to do it all again.
Mustapha Hadji – Ahotor Sports Desk
