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If the Portuguese did the best they could and were able to correct their mistakes, the Croats were cornered and could not find their way out. The “squared” lacked strength, as well as luck and character. Without much motivation and without a sense of responsibility for the result, Santos players played with ease and sometimes even relaxed. But the Dalich team players sometimes felt that the weight on their feet prevented them from performing at full force.
However, the hosts started the game as actual hosts. Modric, Juranovic and Pashalic struggled, it is no coincidence that Croatia scored first and won the first half. Kovacic with the style of a true forward found the ball in the area and sent it to the goal. On the second try, but Kovacic scored.
It cannot be said that the Portuguese were inferior to the Croats, but in decisive moments Ronaldo, Pereira, João Felix could not make their chances. The impression was that Celesao lacked courage and motivation. There were also strange turnovers in the most crucial offensive combination situations. However, everything changed in the second half.
Marco Rog won a completely optional red card, of course, it is necessary to sponsor Ronaldo very strictly, but within the framework of the rules. And so the second yellow was won by the support midfielder and left his team in the minority. In addition to the card, the referee also designated a free kick, Ronaldo himself shot from 25 meters, the goalkeeper hit the ball unsuccessfully, Semedu picked it up and passed it to Dias, who literally shot into the empty goal.
Portugal kept attacking and quickly scored the second goal. The Croats seemed confused right now. After being thrown into the penalty area, Zhota burst into the operating space and was able to make a very good pass to Felish. A little clumsy, but Felish hit, the ball flew into the net with a bounce off the ground.
With incredible efforts, the “squares” were able to recover. It seemed that the attack down the middle was suffocating, Vlašić returned the ball and then Kovacic decided to break through. It turned out exactly in the far corner. Rui Patricio was left without a robot for a long time and could not help during an unexpected shot – 2: 2.
And yet the guests took the victory: in the final minutes, Livakovich made a serious mistake, caught and released the ball at the start, Dias took advantage of this oversight. The defeat could have been a failure for Croatia, but in a parallel match, France beat Sweden 4: 2 and the Croats maintained their residence in the top division of the Nations League. Only one victory came in the tournament for the Dalich Sentinels (2: 1 over Sweden) and this allowed them to elude the Scandinavian team in the final classification. Portugal finished second, which was known even before the start of the match.
The League of Nations. Sixth round. League A
Chief Referee: Michael Oliver (England)
Stadium: Polyud (Split, Croatia)
Croatia – Portugal 2: 3
Goals: Kovacic 29, Kovacic 65 – Days 52, Felis 60, Days 90
Croatia: 1. Livakovic, 6. Lovren, 16. Bradaric, 21. Juranovic, 4. Perisic, 5. Skoric, 8. Kovacic, 10. Modric, 13. Vlasic (Orsic 84), 17. Rog, 15. Pasalic (Brekalo Sixty-five).
Portugal: 1. Rui Patricio, 2. N. Semedu, 4. Díaz, 19. Rui Mario (Conselu 71), 3. R. Semedu, 8. Moutinho, 11. Fernandes (Trincan 46), 13. Pereira (Oliveira 77) , 23. Felish (Bernardo Silva 71), 21. Jota (Paulinho 77), 7. Ronaldo.
Warnings: Rog 21, Perisic 57 – Ronaldo 54
Eliminations: Horn M. 51
