Sochi: Croatia beat Russia 4-3 on penalties on Saturday to set up a World Cup semi-final against England after a dramatic match full of twists and turns. The game finished 2-2 after extra-time following a late equaliser by Russia's Mario Fernandes.
Denis Cheryshev struck a stunning opener from distance to give the hosts the lead in the 31st minute but Croatia equalised through Andrej Kramaric just eight minutes later. Croatia's Domagoj Vida broke the deadlock in extra-time, getting his head to the ball from a corner to score in the 101st minute but Fernandes headed home from a free-kick just five minutes before the end in Sochi.
The overachieving hosts, the lowest ranked team in the tournament at number 70, were trying to make it to the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since the Soviet Union finished fourth at the 1966 tournament in England.
Even Russian President Vladimir Putin was taken in by the host nation's surprising run, at least according to Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov.
"Putin called me during the day, and he called me right now," Cherchesov said. "He congratulated us on a very good game. He said what we showed on the field was great. I told him we were disappointed. He said we should have our eyes open and make the next steps."
The Croats hadn't advanced to the semi-finals at the World Cup since 1998, when the country made its first appearance. Croatia will next play England in the semi-finals on Wednesday in Moscow.
With the crowd silenced following an extra-time header from Croatia defender Domagoj Vida in the 101st minute, Russia defender Mario Fernandes scored with his own header in the 115th to send the match to yet another penalty shootout.
Fernandes, who was born in Brazil but rejected a chance to play for that country's national team in 2011, sent his penalty kick wide of the net in the shootout, giving Croatia the advantage.
Both goalkeepers made early saves in the shootout, with an injured Danijel Subasic stopping the opening shot from Fyodor Smolov. Igor Akinfeev later blocked an attempt from Mateo Kovacic.
At 1-1, Fernandes missed his shot, then the teams traded two scores each before Ivan Rakitic calmly converted the winning penalty.
"We should have finished the job before penalties but maybe it's written in the stars we have to go through the extra drama," said Luka Modric, whose penalty bounced off Subasic's hand and the post before entering the other side of the net.
Denis Cheryshev gave Russia the lead in regulation time with a long-range shot into the upper corner in the 31st minute. Croatia equalized with Andrej Kramaric's header near half-time.
"I left everything on the field and unfortunately we were unlucky," Russia midfielder Roman Zobnin said. "We gave everything we could."
It was the second straight time both teams played in a penalty shootout. Russia beat Spain 4-3 and Croatia defeated Denmark 3-2 in the round of 16.
Argentina in 1990 had been the last team to win consecutive World Cup shootouts. The defending champions at the time defeated Yugoslavia in the quarterfinals and Italy in the semi-finals that year, which also made Italy the last host nation to lose on penalties before this game.
The victory overwhelmed Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic, who cried after Rakitic's winning penalty.
"It wasn't a beautiful game, but it was a battle," Dalic said. "We were lucky. I was concentrating throughout the match, but after that penalty it came bursting out of me."
Modric and Rakitic were decisive in the shootout but didn't play up to expectations in regulation and extra time, unable to create many significant chances for Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic up front.
Both players were beaten by Cheryshev in the play that led to the opening goal for the Russians.
Cheryshev was Russia's leading scorer at the World Cup with four goals. He converted the final penalty for Russia in the shootout against Spain, as well as the winner against Egypt and a pair of goals in the opener against Saudi Arabia in the group stage.
Many fans gave him a standing ovation when he was taken off in the second half.
Highlights Between Russia vs Croatia, 2018 FIFA World Cup, Quarter Final straight from the Fisht Stadium Sochi02:21 IST: GOAL! Ivan Rakitic converts from the spot as Croatia clinch victory 4-3 on penalties to meet England in the semi-finals on Wednesday to find a final berth in the FIFA World Cup 2018. The Russia dream is over, that's all we have for now, until next time, it's goodbye!
02:20 IST: GOAL! Kuziaev scores for Russia. Russia 3-3 on penalties.
02:19 IST: GOAL! Vida scores for Croatia, Russia 2-3 Croatia on penalties.
02:18 IST: GOAL! Ignashevic scores for the hosts. Russia 2-2 Croatia on penalties.
02:17 IST: GOAL! Luka Modric scores for Croatia. Russia 1-2 Croatia on penalties.
02:17 IST: MISS! Mario Fernandes drags it wide for Russia. Russia 1-1 Croatia on penalties.
02:16 IST: MISS! Kovacic misses. Russia 1-1 Croatia on penalties.
02:15 IST: GOAL! Dzagoev scores for Russia. Russia 1-1 Croatia on penalties.
02:15 IST: GOAL! Brozovic puts it in the top corner. Russia 0-1 Croatia on penalties.
02:12 IST: MISS! Fedor Smolov for Russia takes the first penalty kick and he misses. Russia 0-0 Croatia on penalties.
02:06 IST: One minute added, Russia on the break one last chance, but a heavy ball is cleared away the Croatians as player began to tire after 120 minutes. Looks like we are heading to penalties to find a winner, it stands Russia 2-2 Croatia after 120 minutes.
02:04 IST: SAVED by Subasic! 119 minutes played, we are still level. 44,500 people at Fisht Stadium all on their feet.
01:59 IST: Free-kick for Russia from the edge of the box and GOAL! Mario Fernandes heads it home in the 115th minute from a free-kick delivered with precision from Alan Dzagoev. Russia 2-2 Croatia.
01:56 IST: Corner for Russia, Daler Kuziaev in space, unmarked gets a shot on goal but an ailing Subasic does well to get hold off the ball. 112 minutes played.
01:55 IST: Free-kick for Croatia, Modric swings the ball in from the right flank, Rakitic keeps the ball into play but the final touch on by the Croatians is easily collected by Igor Akinfeev.
01:54 IST: Mandzukic brought down on the run by Gazinskii as he receives a yellow card. 109 minutes played.
01:50 IST: Croatia gets the second-phase of extra-time underway!
01:48 IST: After first period of extra-time, Russia 1-2 Croatia. We head into a short interval before the final 15 minutes.
01:44 IST: Corner for Russia, Aleksandr Erokhin heads it wide. Russia 1-2 Croatia. 2 minutes added in the first period of extra-time.
01:40 IST: GOAL! Domagoj Vida puts Croatia in the lead in the 101st minute, off a clinical header which finishes off in the near corner, initially made by corner kick delivered by Modric.
01:37 IST: Sensational run from Luka Modric, but a last-ditch defence from Russia keeps the danger out. 97 minutes on the clock, still all-square.
01:31 IST: Corner for Russia, Golovin takes it the ball falls inside the box. But Croatia keeps composure to clear it away. Russia 1-1 Croatia, 91 minutes played.
01:30 IST: Russia gets the first period of the extra-time underway!
01:26 IST: FT Russia 1-1 Croatia.
01:24 IST: Last minute of added time, Croatia on the attack, finds Kovacic on the right flank who crosses the ball only to see it cleared away by the Russian defence. Referee blows the whistle! As it stands Russia 1-1 Croatia after 90 minutes, we will head into extra-time to potentially find a winner or else penalties will follow.
01:21 IST: 5 minutes added, Rebic on the left flank, Modric finds space inside the box goes past the defender as he forces a corner. But Croatia fails to make the most of it. Russia 1-1 Croatia.
01:16 IST: Corner for Croatia, Modric takes it. Referee sees Loveren in a tussle inside the box, points for a goal-kick to Russia.
01:13 IST: Russia have a free-kick from the 30-yard box, Aleksandr Golovin puts a swinging ball inside the box, cleared away by Croatia. Still level after 85 minutes.
01:10 IST: Russia show a moment of inspiration, through the right flank but their final cross on the ball has been cleared away by the Croatian defence.
01:05 IST: Brilliant passage of play from Croatia! Luka Modric initiated the attack, passes on the right flank as Brozovic gets the final touch, which deflects for a corner -- wasted by the Croatians.
01:00 IST: Russia have pushed Croatia on the back-foot, Fernandes gets a brilliant cross from the right flank which is headed just over the crossbar. Russia 1-1 Croatia
00:56 IST: Denis Cheryshev who gave Russia the lead, has been replaced by Fedor Smolov in the 67th minute.
00:52 IST: Substitution for Croatia, Perisic who came close on scoring seconds before has been called-off to be replaced by Brozovic.
00:51 IST: Set-piece for Russia, Dzyuba's header on target is easily collected by Subasic. Still level after 61 minutes. Russia 1-1 Croatia.
00:49 IST: Blocked by the POST! Perisic does well to get away from the defenders to take a close range shot, denied by the post.
00:44 IST: Russia break on the counter, Cheryshev tries to play a ball ahead. Cleared away by the Croatian defence, who retain possession but Kramaric plays a heavy ball on the right flank, which goes away for a Russian goal-kick.
00:41 IST: Kramaric with an over-head acrobatic kick, straight into the safe arms of Ikor Akinfeev.
00:38 IST: Croatia keep ball control, switch play on the right flank. Kramaric plays a dummy or two inside the box, before his shot is blocked. 49 minutes, we are still all-square.
00:34 IST: Hosts Russia play the ball inside their own-half, to put the second-half underway. It's Russia 1-1 Croatia.
00:19 IST: At HT Russia 1-1 Croatia.
00:16 IST: 2 minutes added for half-time. End-to-end play on display, Croatia look to attack in the final minutes but referee blows the whistle and players approach tunnel for a breather!
00:13 IST: Slight Nudge from Dzyuba on Loveren, inside the Croatian box. Goal-kick for the Croatians approaching half-time.
00:10 IST: GOAL! Andrej Kramaric puts Croatia level through a close range shot in the 39th minute, which was initially created through a brilliant flick by Perisic and an assist from Mandzukic from the left flank. As it stands, Russia 1-1 Croatia.
00:09 IST: Ivan Strinic booked for pulling Samedov's shirt. Meanwhile, Russia attack through the left flank as Cheryshev gets a side netting.
00:05 IST: Corner for Croatia, swung in by Modric, held on Rakitic. Croatia gets a cross from the right flank, cleared away by by the Russians as Dejan Lovren collects a yellow card in the process
00:02 IST: GOAL! Denis Cheryshev scores through a blinder, after he exchanges a one-touch pass with Dzyuba to end it in the near corner in the 31st minute. Russia 1-0 Croatia.
00:00 IST: Free-kick for Russia, Dzyuba delivers a curling ball, straight into the safe arms of Danijel Subasic, who spilled the ball in first attempt, then holds on to it.
23:58 IST: Ivan Perisic gets a header from a well deliver cross, just wide off the far corner. 28 minutes played.
23:55 IST: Russia, meanwhile try to play long balls inside the Croatian half to find penetration but fail to get past the opponents. After 25 minutes Croatia have enjoyed 67% of possession.
23:49 IST: Croatia dominating possession on the ball, making Russia play the chasing game. The visitors look well organised here.
23:46 IST: Free-kick for Croatia, Rakitic takes it, but too high. 16 minutes on the clock.
23:43 IST: Russia break on the counter through the left blank, but the final ball inside the box is too easy for the Croatians to clear away.
23:40 IST: Corner for Croatia, Modric delivers a swinging ball in cleared away by Dzyuba, who tries to break on the counter but blocked by the Croatian defence.
23:37 IST: REBIC! Heads it over the cross-bar, as Croatia register a near miss in the 6th minute off the corner.
23:35 IST: Corner for Russia, cleared away by Kramaric as Croatia retain possession on the ball, The corner was formed through Dzyuba's shot on the goal, which was blocked.
23:34 IST: Croatia trying to contain possession, taking their time about passing the ball. 3 minutes played.
23:30 IST: Kick-off! The match gets underway.
23:25 IST: National anthems take the centre-stage, as both teams gear up for the crucial kick-off. Less than 5 minutes to go.
22:10 IST: Here is the complete line-up of hosts Russia and Croatia, who lock horns for one final place in the semi-final. France, Belgium and England have already booked themselves a semi-final berth.
21:46 IST: Russia football team depart for the all-important encounter at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi against Croatia.
21:43 IST: Meanwhile, this is how the Croatian dressing room looks like. Plenty at stake for both the nations. It's now-or-never!
21:40 IST: Glimpses from the dressing room of hosts Russia football team ahead of the crucial clash against Croatia.
21:30 IST: Hello and welcome to the live commentary from the quarter-finals match between hosts Russia and Croatia.
Any team boasting a player of Luka Modric's quality can afford to dream, especially when he is supported by Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic. The Real Madrid player is possibly the best midfielder at the tournament but the strength in depth for such a small country is remarkable.
Sixteen of Dalic's squad play in Europe's big five leagues, with Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic the hero against Denmark when he saved three penalties. The powerful Ante Rebic has impressed as well, fresh from scoring twice for Eintracht Frankfurt in their German Cup final win over Bayern Munich. Bringing the 24-year-old winger back into the international fold has been one of the changes made by Dalic, who replaced Ante Cacic as coach late last year.
