Croatia knocked out Brazil on penalties and are the first to qualify for the Qatar 2022 semi-finals – Sports

Croatia became the first to qualify for the semi-finals in the Qatar World Cup 2022, by defeating Brazil 4-2 in the introduction with penalty kicks, after a 1-1 draw in extra time.

Neymar scored for Brazil in the 15th minute of the first overtime and Bruno Petković equalized 12 meters into the second overtime.

Vlasic, Majer, Modric and Orsic scored on penalties for Croatia. Casemiro and Pedro did it for Brazil; Levakovic saved Rodrygo’s shot and Marquinhos’ shot hit the post.

The match, 0-0 after 90 minutes, was played at the Education City Stadium, in the city of Al-Rayyan, seven kilometers from the center of Doha, with English referee Michael Oliver.

The first phase was marked by parity, as Brazil proposed and the Balkans came out quickly on the counterattack.

And it was the clearest picture of Brazil at the feet of Vinicius Junior after a good combination with Richarlison, but the situation was under the control of goalkeeper Dominic Levakovic.

The Croats, led by Luka Modric (always clean and on the feet) also had two ways through Ivan Perisic, their most dangerous striker.

On the other hand, Brazil grew and generated many risky opportunities, to the point of making Levakovic a figure, who is the great responsible for the 0-0 lead that led the confrontation to extra time. There, on a par, the superstar Neymar appeared in all his glory to open the scoring for Brazil.

When it seemed that “Canarinha” was left with a victory and a pass to the semifinals, Petkovic made a miraculous equalizer and led the selection to shots from the penalty spot. There, goalkeeper Levakovic shone again, and Marquinhos made a mistake, and Croatia, the world runner-up in Russia 2018, celebrated by passing to the semi-finals.

Next time, Croatia will face the winner of the match this afternoon from 4:00 pm between Argentina and the Netherlands.