The Croatian national team qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after defeating its Japanese counterpart with a penalty shootout 3-1, after the end of the original and extra time with a 1-1 draw, in the final price match, which was held at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.

The Japanese were close to opening the scoring after only three minutes from the start, but Shogo Taniguchi's header went just wide of the post.

And the Japanese defense fell into the prohibition, so Ivan Perisic cut the ball, stormed the penalty area from the left side, then fired at goalkeeper Gonda, who corrected his colleague's mistake.

Daichi Kamada manipulated the Croatian defense inside the penalty area, but decided to shoot instead of passing, so the ball strangely went to a throw-in.

And the "Samurai Warriors" managed to open the scoring, after a cross from the right side, Yoshida crossed his path with his foot, to reach the follower Diazin Maeda, who ensured that it put it in the net at the 40th minute.

Japan's goal "43": Japan 1-0 Croatia # World Cup_Qatar_2022 |

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The Croatian national team did not wait long to correct the situation, so it equalized the score ten minutes after the break, after a cross from Diane Lovren. Perisic rose to hit it with his head to the far left corner, difficult for the Japanese goalkeeper Gonda.

Perisic surprises Japan with a header that gives Croatia an equaliser

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And the “Samurai” almost regained its lead 3 minutes after the Croatian goal, with a missile shot from Wataru Endo, from outside the penalty area, which was pushed away by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Levakovic, with difficulty, to a corner.

Endo's missile was answered by Luka Modric with a similar one, but it was hit by an extraordinary brilliance from Gonda, who flew and stretched in a wonderful way, preventing it from reaching the net.

The remaining minutes did not witness anything new in terms of the result, so the original two halves ended in a 1-1 draw, and the match was extended to two additional halves for the first time in the Qatar World Cup.

Japanese substitute Kaoru Mitoma kicked the ball from the middle of the field into the penalty area for Croatia, before firing a powerful shot, which Levakovic responded with his fist.

Lovro Mayer almost scored a fatal goal for Croatia in the 120 + 1 minute, but his shot from just outside the penalty area passed near the post.

For the first time in the current edition of the World Cup, two teams are arguing for penalty kicks, which smiled in favor of Croatia, 3-1.

Watch the decisive penalty shootout for #Croatia's victory over #Japan.. the joy of its players and the sadness of the samurai children #WorldCup_Qatar_2022 |

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- Al-Kass channels (@alkasschannel) December 5, 2022

Nikola Vlasic and Marcelo Brozovic scored for Croatia, while Marco Levia was missed. As for Japan, Takuma Asano scored for them, while Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida missed thanks to the brilliance of Levakovic, who saved the three kicks.

The Croatian national team is waiting for the winner of tonight’s match between the Brazilian and South Korean teams, to play against it in the quarter-finals of the Qatar World Cup, on Friday, December 9, 2022, at the Education City Stadium, at 18:00 Mecca Al-Mukarramah time.