Croatia beat Japan on penalties, reach W’Cup quarter-finals

Croatia beat Japan on penalties to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after a 1-1 draw in their last-16 clash on Monday.

Daizen Maeda gave Japan a half-time lead and Ivan Perisic headed home an equaliser for the 2018 runners-up before goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three of four penalties as Croatia won the shoot-out 3-1.

Japan’s clash with Croatia went to a penalty shoot-out after the two sides finished extra-time deadlocked at 1-1.

Daizen Maeda fired Japan ahead on 43 minutes before 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia levelled through Ivan Perisic in the 55th minute.

Japan, trying to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history, aimed to claim another big European scalp after beating Germany and Spain in the group stage in Qatar.