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Published: 01:37, December 06, 2022 | Updated: 02:01, December 06, 2022
Croatia beat Japan on penalties to reach World Cup quarter-finals
By Reuters
Published:01:37, December 06, 2022 Updated:02:01, December 06, 2022 By Reuters

Japan's midfielder #08 Ritsu Doan and Croatia's defender #06 Dejan Lovren fight for the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Japan and Croatia at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha on Dec 5, 2022. (ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP)

AL WAKRAH, Qatar - Croatia goalkeeper Dominic Kivakovic saved penalties from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida before Mario Pasalic netted the winning spot-kick in their 3-1 shootout win over Japan on Monday to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

With the scores deadlocked at 1-1 after an absorbing 90 minutes, Japan's Kaoru Mitoma went closest in the scrappy half-hour of extra time, forcing Kivakovic to parry away his powerful drive.

Daichi Kamada had shot off target after a flowing Japan counter-attack minutes before Daizen Maeda deservedly put them ahead in the 43rd minute, firing home from close range after Ritsu Doan delivered an in-swinging cross into the penalty area.

Croatia forward Ivan Perisic, who was denied by Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda in the opening minutes, pulled them level 10 minutes into the second half after meeting Dejan Lovren's cross with a powerful header.

ALSO READ: 'Miraculous' Croatia ready for similar-styled Japan

Croatia will face either Brazil or South Korea in the quarter-finals.

Croatia's midfielder #15 Mario Pasalic and Japan's defender #16 Takehiro Tomiyasu jump to head the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Japan and Croatia at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha on Dec 5, 2022. (ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP)


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