After a great September qualifying campaign in which they collected seven points against the three toughest opponents in Group H, Croatia met Cyprus tonight at Aek Arena in Larnaca. Several hundred Croatia fans were in the stands.
Slobodan Kadic
Before this match, Croatia topped the group with 13 points, while Russia has the same number of points, with a slightly weaker goal difference. Only the first in the group qualifies directly for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while the second-placed enters additional qualifications.
Lineups:
Cyprus: Michail – Andreou,Soteriou, Ioannou – Psaltis, Artymatas, Kyriakou, Avraam – Papoulis, P. Sotiriou, Pittas
Croatia: Livaković – Stanišić, Ćaleta-Car, Gvardiol, Sosa – Brozović, Kovačić – Vlašić, Modrić, Perišić – Kramarić
In the first minute of the match, debutant Stanišić made an almost catastrophic mistake, and Sotiriou rushed towards the goal. Fortunately, Gvardiol caught up and managed to block his shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Croatia’s attacking midfield was trying to speed up and control the game, while the entire Cyprus defense stayed back to prevent any chances.
A great attacking play by Croatia in the 12th minute saw Vlašić find Kramarić at the top of the box, though he shot over the post.
Perišić shot a minute later which was deflected for Croatia’s first corner kick. There was another great chance for Sosa who shot from outside the box, before Ćaleta-Car’s header just missed.
Croatia’s second corner came in the 16th minute. Modrić dribbled through the Cyprus defense to the goal line which went out for another Croatia corner a minute later.
Vlašić had a great chance in the 19th but shot over the goal post after forcing his way around the Cyprus defense.
A tremendous effort from Perišić in the 20th, shooting near post with a brilliant save by the Cyprus goalkeeper.
Slobodan Kadic
Croatia had their chance in the 22nd minute – a Perišić assist from the goal line found Kramarić in the penalty area for what we thought was a 1:0 lead, but it was ultimately called offside after VAR.
Perišić had another great chance in the 30th minute after a superb through ball from Gvardiol which was played out for a goal kick.
Kovačić was booked with a yellow card in the 33rd minute, meaning he’ll miss Croatia’s next match against Slovakia at home.
Kramarić shot at the keeper a minute later.
Cyprus had a dangerous attack in the 37th minute which the Croatia defense sent out for the first Cyprus corner. Cyprus was certainly playing with more intent as the match neared halftime. A fortunate offside play nearly saw a Cyprus goal, but Livaković saved the day.
After a worrying 10 or so minutes, Croatia picked up their intensity again in the final 5 minutes of the first half. A free kick for Croatia with two minutes to go was cleared by the Cyprus defense.
Croatia’s best chance of the game came in the 1st minute of injury time. A brilliant Modrić ball found Sosa who shot, forcing a cluster in the front of the goal. Kramarić almost scored for 1:0 but was denied by the keeper.
But Croatia got their goal moments before the halftime whistle. Perišić dribbled into the box and scored far post for 1:0!
Slobodan Kadic
Slobodan Kadic
There were no changes for Croatia going into the second half.
Croatia’s first corner of the second half came in the 49th minute.
Croatia was awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute. Kramarić pushed into the box and was taken down by two Cyprus players. Luka Modrić stepped up to the penalty spot and was denied by the Cyprus goalkeeper to keep the game 1:0.
Croatia had a series of beautiful one-twos in the 57th minute but a cluster of Cyrpus players stayed back to deny any chances. Vlašić shot near post a minute later.
Zlatko Dalić subbed off Kovačić for Pašalić in the 62nd minute. Andrej Kramarić was subbed off for Marko Livaja. while Nikola Vlašić came off for Josip Brekalo in the 67th minute.
Slobodan Kadic
Sosa had a brilliant chance in the 70th minute but chose to play Livaja instead of taking the shot, which the keeper easily defended.
Croatia continued with stellar chances in the minutes that followed, all denied by the brilliant Cyprus goalkeeper.
However, a Croatia corner in the 79th minute brought just the luck they needed. Gvardiol found the back of the net from the cross for 2:0!
Dalić subbed off Modrić for Ivanušec in the 82nd minute, while Brozović came off for Kristijan Jakić.
To confirm Croatia’s dominance during the match, Livaković’s first save came only in the 84th minute!
The referee added 3 minutes of injury time, and Croatia wasn’t finished yet. A brilliant ball from Brekalo in the box found Livaja who tapped it in for 3:0!
Croatia maintained possession to end the match in their favor. Goals by Perišić, Gvardiol, and Livaja confirmed the 3:0 victory.
Croatia will face Slovakia next in Osijek on Monday.
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