Dominik Livakovic stopped three penalties to advance 2018 champions Croatia into the World Cup quarterfinals and to further humiliate Japan in the elimination stage.
Japan failed to go past this stage of the competition before, as they did in 2002, 2012, and 2018, losing 3-1 in a shootout after a 1-1 tie.
Just before halftime, Daizen Maeda of Celtic had given Japan the lead, but Ivan Perisic leveled the score with a beautiful header.
Four years ago, with a two-goal advantage over Belgium, they lost in the dying seconds, and here at Al Janoub Stadium, Japan’s hopes of reaching the quarterfinals were dashed by a run of horrendous penalties.
As Croatia eked out a victory, Livakovic stopped feeble attempts from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma, and Maya Yoshida.
Takehiro Tomiyasu, who was making his first appearance of the championships, tussled with Perisic early on, and the Tottenham player intercepted his back ball, but Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda was up to the challenge.
Andrej Kramaric nearly succeeded in scrambling Perisic’s header across goal over the line, but the Japanese defense was able to clear it away as their own intermittent forays forward continued to fizzle out.
Wataru Endo played Daichi Kamada into a wide shot, but they struck the front minutes after.
Ritsu Doan crossed to the back post after a quick corner routine, and after a few ricochets, the ball landed at Maeda’s feet. Maeda made no mistakes from close range.
Japan had a slim lead going into halftime when the goal was upheld after a VAR offside check, but it would not last long.
Dejan Lovren’s precise cross was met by Perisic, who powered his header past Gonda from just inside the box to tie the score for Croatia.
Wataru Endo played Daichi Kamada into a wide shot, but they struck the front minutes after.
Ritsu Doan crossed to the back post after a quick corner routine, and after a few ricochets, the ball landed at Maeda’s feet. Maeda made no mistakes from close range.
Japan had a slim lead going into halftime when the goal was upheld after a VAR offside check, but it would not last long.
Dejan Lovren’s precise cross was met by Perisic, who powered his header past Gonda from just inside the box to tie the score for Croatia.
