Croatia edge Morocco to claim third spot

DOHA, DEC 17

2018 Russia runners-up Croatia claimed the third place within the Fifa Qatar 2022 World Cup after edging a preventing Morocco 2-1 within the third-place match on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium on Saturday night time.

Croatia made their intentions clear once they slotted house within the seventh minute of the match itself. Josko Gvardiol’s flying header beat Morocco’s star goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after a free kick from Lovro Majer 30 yards from objective.

Left-footed Majer curled it over the wall and was acquired by Ivan Perisic who flicked a header again throughout the world. Gvardiol charged to satisfy the ball and powered a spectacular diving header previous Bono.

Morocco hit again in two minutes after a free kick outdoors the field. Captain Hakim Ziyech’s inswinging free kick met a header from Luka Modric nevertheless it looped in the direction of Croatia objective and Achraf Dari made no hesitation in netting his first worldwide objective for Morocco within the ninth minute to make it 1-1.

Croatia restored their lead within the forty second minute by a first-time shot from Mislav Orsic which beat Bono and hit the within of the far submit and rebounded into the web.

Within the twenty ninth minute, Morocco top-scorer Youssef En-Nesyri couldn’t get a contact on a Achref Hakimi cross flying throughout the Croatian goalmouth. Hakimi and Ziyech had been instrumental within the speedy one-two transfer.

In the course of the early minutes of the match, Morocco keeper Bono nearly gave a move into his personal web when Croatia utilized steady strain on the goalmouth.

Croatia led 2-1 at half-time.

Morocco introduced in Ilias Chair instead of Abdelhamid Sabri throughout the second-half.

Within the 52nd minute Morocco’s En-Nesyri chested a protracted move from Boufal however couldn’t go previous a watchful Perisic.

Within the 56th minute, Moroccan midfielder Bilal El Khannouss was substituted by Azzedine Ounahi.

Within the sixtieth minute, Nicolos Vlasic changed a tearful ahead Andrej Kramaric, who appeared like struggling a hamstring damage, whereas making a cross for Croatia.

Morocco made one other transfer in sixty fifth minute by Hakimi, whose lofted cross was headed away by Josip Sutalo, underneath strain from En-Nesyri.

Morocco made a double change within the earlier minute with Sofiane Boufal and the limping Dari had been substituted by Anass Zaroury and Badr Benoun.

Croatia responded with a double change as nicely with Bruno Petkovic and Mario Pasalic changing Marko Livaja and Lovro Majer.

Croatia survived some tense moments after a Moroccan assault within the 74th minute because the defence and goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic scrambled to place the ball away.

A turnout of 44,137 spectators, dominated by Moroccan followers, was recorded on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium for the play-off match.

Within the seventy fifth minute, Livakovic prevented an equaliser with an excellent save after a close-range shot from En-Nesyri.

The match produced a yellow card for Morocco’s Ounahi after extreme appeals within the 69th minute. Amallah additionally acquired a yellow within the 84th minute for dissent after an incident with Petkovic.

Within the 87th minute, Mateo Kovacic missed a very good likelihood as his left-footed shot missed the goal close to the far submit.

Morocco made a last-ditch effort within the extra time however the onerous working En-Nesyri’s header was simply over the bar and Croatia completed the World Cup in third place.