Croatia Beat Japan on Penalties to Reach World Cup Quarter-Finals

Croatia Beat Japan on Penalties to Reach World Cup Quarter-Finals
Dominik Livakovic of Croatia saves the fourth penalty by Maya Yoshida of Japan in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Japan and Croatia at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 5, 2022. Alex Grimm/Getty Images
Reuters
Updated:

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.

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

By Hritika Sharma