Andrej Kramaric scored a brace to help Croatia produce one of the high-scoring World Cup scores of the weekend action. After just two minutes, Alphonso Davies gave Canada the lead with their first-ever World Cup goal on the fifth attempt. However, two goals from Andrej Kramaric, one on either side of a Marko Livaja goal, changed the course of the game. Then a late fourth was added by substitute Lovro Majer. Canada’s first tournament appearance since the 1986 edition in Mexico was cut short, and they were already leaving the country before playing their final group match against Morocco. Croatia’s victory kept them in first place in their group. They only need a point from their decisive match against Belgium on Thursday to advance.
After two minutes, Canada’s big moment eventually occurred. Davies had a penalty saved against Belgium in their opening match, but he wasn’t to be denied again as he rose in the box to head in Tajon Buchanan’s cross for the World Cup’s quickest goal to date. After their tie with Morocco, Croatia’s energy levels were questioned, but they used all of their expertise to change the game before halftime.
On minute 37, Kramaric was the first to score after latching onto an astute reverse feed from Ivan Perisic and squeezing the ball into the far corner from a tight angle. After receiving a feed from Josip Juranovic, Livaja scored just before halftime with a low, precise shot from the edge of the box that went inside the near post. At the 70-minute mark, Kramaric scored once more to seal the victory. He did so by deflecting a Perisic cross into the goal with a deft touch. And in stoppage time, Kamal Miller made a mistake that gave Mislav Orsic a clear shot at goal before setting up Majer for the winning goal for Croatia.
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