Japan 1-1 Croatia (1-3) PENALTIES LIVE RESULT: Croatia break Japanese hearts after winning shootout – latest reaction
CROATIA are through to the World Cup quarter-finals after Japan missed THREE penalties in the shootout.
Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three penalties in the first shootout at this World Cup as his side won 3-1 on pens after the match ended 1-1.
Celtic star Daizen Maeda had fired Japan ahead on the stroke of half-time.
But Spurs ace Ivan Perisic equalised with a fine header early in the second half of the crunch clash.
- Result: Croatia 1-1 Japan (3-1 on pens)
- Japan XI: Gonda, Taniguchi, Endo, Doan, Morita, Nagatomo, J. Ito, Kamada, Tomiyasu, Yoshida, Maeda
- Croatia XI: Livakovic, Barisic, Perisic, Lovren, Kovacic, Kramaric, Modric, Brozovic, Petkovic, Gvardiol, Juranovic
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85 Japan 1-1 Croatia
What's unbelievable is that we're in the final stages of normal time and there has been no booking for either side.
You would expect things to get a bit more heated close to full-time...
83 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Time is running out for a late winner in Qatar.
Remember, Croatia thrived in the 2018 World Cup during stoppage time and penalties...
80 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Japan ace Toniyasu breaks inside the area with a beautiful turn and has the chance to shoot.
But the Arsenal ace probably didn't realise it or lacked trust to finish with his left
77 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Chance!
Japan captain Yoshida carelessly gives the ball away at the back and Perisic picks it up.
The Croatia star delivers a stunning long-range shot but just misses the target after a deflection off of Tomiyasu
75 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Substitution
Another switch by Japan manager Moriyasu as Sakai replaces Kamada
74 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Chance
Croatia ace Juranovic delivers a cross from the right and Pasalic tries a back-header that misses the target
73 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Japan may not want to go up against Croatia in extra-time or penalties.
As the Croats thrived under those conditions in 2018 on their way to the Final against France
70 Japan 1-1 Croatia
We knew before kick-off that this can really go either way...
But this has truly been a very evenly-played match so far...
68 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Substitution
Another switch by Croatia boss Dalic as Pasalic replaces Kramaric
68 Japan 1-1 Croatia
We've seen Japan coming back from behind perfectly in the group stages.
But the Samurai Blue haven't been as good protecting a lead in the knockouts against Croatia so far...
67 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Chance!
Croatia come close to a second as Kramaric's deflected shot sets Budimir up in front of Gonda.
But the striker's header just bounces past Japan's left post
65 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Perisic has made history for Croatia with his equaliser against Japan.
The Tottenham star has scored his 10th goal at a major tournament, overtaking Davor Suker's national team record of nine
Credit: Getty 64 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Substitution
Japan boss Moriyasu makes his classic switch with two impact players that have served him extremely well in the group stage.
Asano and Mitoma replace Maeda and Nagatomo respectively
63 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Chance!
Croatia star Modric almost scores a stunner from distance but Gonda denies him with a beautiful lunge to his top right corner
63 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Croatia manager Dalic wants to take advantage of his striker's height.
The obvious priority is to create crosses looking for the tall centre-forwards's headers
62 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Substitution
Croatia manager Dalic makes the first change of the match as Budimir replaces Petkovic
60 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Chance
Japan ace Endo delivers his first shot of the match from distance but Livakovic picks up with ease
60 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Tempo has seriously picked up at the Al Janoub Stadium after Perisic's equaliser.
Both teams have become pacier and the crowd is louder than ever
57 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Chance!
Japan almost regain the lead with a stunning long-range shot by Endo that is saved thanks to Livakovic's stunning lunge to his top left corner
55 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Looks like we've got a game in our hands as Croatia equalise with Perisic!
Lovren delivers a wonderful cross from the right and finds the Tottenham star in the far post where he gets a stunning header to beat Gonda
55 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Goal!
Croatia equalise with Perisic!!!
52 Japan 1-0 Croatia
Penalty appeal
Croatia protest for a penalty as Petkovic goes down while under pressure from Taniguchi trying to reach a long ball.
But the referee will have none of it
50 Japan 1-0 Croatia
Japan's pressure continues thanks to their high lines on the pitch.
Croatia have yet to find an answer to the Samurai Blue's amazing speed and pace
49 Japan 1-0 Croatia
Chance
Croatia register their first opportunity in the first half with a long-range shot by Kovacic that just misses Gonda's right post
48 Japan 1-0 Croatia
Lovren creates a dangerous situation for his own team as his weak headed pass to Livakovic almost sees Maeda getting there.
But the Croatian goalkeeper just beats the Japanese striker to it