FIFA World Cup 2022: Dominik Livakovic Heroic in penalty shoutout as Croatia beat Japan to quarter finals, Player Ratings..
Dominik Livakovic was the hero in Last 16 as he made three key shoutout saves to send the Croatia in the World Cup quarter-finals as they defeated Japan 3-1 on penalties at Al Janoub Stadium to break the hearts of the Samurai Blue.
As Expected, Croatia sought to control the ball early on in the match. Japan, though, were the team who produced the better opportunities and were more threatening moving forward, despite their early lack of possession.
Japan sought to defeat their third straight European opponent after shocking victories over Germany and Spain in the group stages. It was the first knockout game to play an additional 30 minutes in Qatar.
Both goals were scored after the half. After some shaky Croatian defence, Daizen Maeda (43) took Japan the lead in the first half. Ivan Perisic's (55) powerful header levelled the score shortly after the break.
The fact that the game went into extra time may not have come as a huge surprise because seven of Croatia's past eight knockout games at major competitions required the extra time, with their most recent defeat being to Spain in the round of 16 of Euro 2020 last summer.
World Cup 2022 Fantasy football: Japan vs Croatia, Player ratings
Japan: Gonda (7), Taniguchi (7), Endo (7), Doan (7), Morita (6), Nagatomo (6), Ito (7), Kamada (7), Tomiyasu (7), Yoshida (7), Maeda (7).
Subs used: Mitoma (7), Asano (7), Sakai 96), Minamino (6), Tanaka (n/a).
Croatia: Livakovic (8), Barisic (6), Perisic (7), Lovren (7), Kovacic (6), Kramaric (6), Modric (7), Brozovic (7), Petkovic (7), Gvardiol (7), Juranovic (7).
Subs used: Budimir (7), Pasalic (7), Majer (7), Vlasic (6), Orsic (n/a), Livaja (n/a).
Player of the match: Dominik Livakovic.
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