Luay Ahmed
Croatia took on Canada this evening at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, with both teams looking to improve on their opening match performances.
Canada got off to a flying start, to the surprise of the forty thousand fans in attendance – when Buchanan found space on the right wing to deliver an inch perfect far post cross, which was met by a rising Alphonso Davies who powerfully headed the ball into the back of the net.
Canada maintained their high tempo start to the game for the opening twenty minutes, without creating any clear-cut goal scoring opportunities.
In the 25th minute, Kramaric dribbled past the Canadian defence and smashed in a near post shot, which was ruled offside. Croatia didn’t seem to be disheartened by the ruling and began to take charge of the game with Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic smoothly moving the ball around midfield.
In the 35th minute, Croatia created their second dangerous opportunity of the game when an inch perfect Mateo Kovacic through ball found Livaja in the left channel. The Croatian striker struck the ball to the goalkeepers near post, and Borjan responded by making a strong save.
A minute later, Croatia would finally break down the resolute Canadian defence when Perisic slid in a through ball to Kramaric, who made no mistake with a low shot to the far post to tie the game at 1-1.
Croatia continued to apply the pressure on Canada and got their second goal of the half when Livaja took a low hard shot from just outside the box, to send Croatia into the lead at half time.
The second half saw Croatia take full control of the game.
In the 70th minute, Ivan Perisic made space for himself on the right wing before delivering a cross to the far post. Kramaric cleverly controlled the cross, faked a right foot shot, before curling in a brilliant left footed strike into the bottom corner.
As Canada threw men forward to try and salvage the game, Croatia exploited the space behind Canada’s back line by defeating the offside trap and setting Orsic through on goal. The substitute unselfishly slid the ball to Majer, who slotted home Croatia’s fourth goal in the 94th minute.
Full time: Croatia 4 – 1 Canada.