After a two-day hiatus, the 2022 FIFA World Cup resumed Friday with Croatia defeating Brazil in the tournament’s opening quarterfinals match at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
The game remained scoreless for the first 90 minutes, thanks to multiple saves by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovi. Brazil ultimately broke through in the first extra time session when Neymar scored. Bruno Petkovic scored in the last minutes of extra time to level the game and send it to penalties kicks.
Croatia appeared at ease in penalty kicks. Croatia advanced to the semifinals after scoring in all four rounds, and Livakovi denied Rodrygo, while Marquinhos’ penalty attempt struck the post.
One more semifinals ticket is up for grabs on Friday, when the Netherlands meet Argentina (2 p.m. ET, FOX). The victors will progress to the semifinals, which begin on Tuesday, December 13.
Croatia gets its first big chance of the game 👀 pic.twitter.com/CJvYF7ttQn
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
This passing by Brazil 😍 pic.twitter.com/IRqgX0npAb
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
Brazil was never able to break through on its many opportunities in the match’s first 90 minutes, recording 15 total shots with eight of them on goal. Croatia, meanwhile, didn’t have many opportunities.
Neymar scored in the extra time
Brazil's hero: Neymar 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/cdF3qc44EE
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
Brazil fans in Rio de Janeiro went WILD for Neymar's goal 🇧🇷🎉 #WorldCupWatchParty pic.twitter.com/FTxx9LkbeS
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
Bruno Petkovic leveled up at 117th
Croatia evened the match in the final minutes of extra time when Bruno Petkovic scored on a cross that brought a brief moment of euphoria.
And they went into penalty shoot out in which Croatia won by 4-2 against Brazil.
There, Dominik Livakovic, the hero of the penalty shootout against Japan, came up big again, saving Rodrygo’s first effort to put Croatia ahead. The Croatian takers took it from there, as Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Luka Modric, and Mislav Orsic all struck. Marquinhos hit the post with Brazil’s fourth effort, sending the favorites home.
