Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1002137
29 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 JULY 2018 SPORTS WORLD CUP Croatia down hosts Russia on penalties to set up England clash in last four Russia Croatia 2 2 CROATIA won a penalty-kick shootout 4-3, cementing the nation's first berth in the World Cup semifinals since 1998 after a thrilling 2-2 draw. Domagoj Vida's 100th-minute header had Croatia leading in extra time, but Mario Fernandes's header in the 115th pulled Rus- sia back level and forced penal- ty kicks as the two sides battled for a place in the semis. Russia, the unexpected heroes of this World Cup, the plucky underdogs who beat Spain and took Croatia to penalties are out of the competition. The lowest-ranked team com- ing into the World Cup, the hosts were branded as 'doomed to fail' by the Moscow Times. Fail, they did not, and after a game against Croatia where they could well have won, they will bow out with real pride. Russia went 1-0 up af- ter Denis Cheryshev danced his way through the Croatian midfield, riding a challenge by Ivan Rakitic and eluding the lunge of Luka Modric, before unleashing a beautiful bending shot into the top corner from 25 yards out. Their lead lasted just eight minutes, though, when Mario Mandzukic had an enormous amount of time and space on the left, cut it back to Kramar- ic, who headed in the equal- iser. Dyzuba and Golovin har- ried the Croatian defence but couldn't find a winner in nor- mal time. In the 72nd minute, opportu- nity knocked again for Russia. Fedor Smolov played the ball out wide to Fernandes on the right and the full-back crossed only for substitute Aleksandr Erokhin to head over from an inviting position. Right at the end of normal time, Subasic (the Croatia keeper) lunged to stop a de- flected shot and looked as though he might have pulled his hamstring. Extra time came and so did more drama. A Luka Modric corner found Domagoj Vida, who bundled in what looked like an ugly winner on 100 min- utes. But the Russians would not be beaten. Their coach Stanislav Cherchesov urged the crowd in Sochi to make even more noise. When they did, Russia responded with a goal. A fantastic free-kick by Dza- goev was met by Mario Fer- nandes who powered the ball into the inside of the left post on 115 minutes. There was precious little time for many more clear cut chanc- es and the game headed, almost inevitably, to penalties. Smolov dinked it straight to Subasic and gave Croatia the advantage from the get go, but Real Madrid's Kovacic also spurned his chance. Fernandes, who had headed the goal to get Russia to pen- alties missed horribly and Modric snuck his penalty in off the post. Rakitic finished off the job, and it is Croatia who will play England on Wednesday evening. Andrej Kramaric 39', 1 - 2 Domagoj Vida 101' Croatia win 4-3 after penalties Denis Cheryshev 31', Mario Fernandes 115'