Croatia beats Japan on penalties to reach quarter-finals

Croatia beat Japan on penalties on Monday in the tournament’s last game at the Al Janoub Stadium in Wakrah, south of Qatar’s capital, to reach the quarter-finals. Croatia will face Brazil in the quarter-finals.

With scores deadlocked at 1-1, Croatia won with goalkeeper Dominic Livakovic saving three penalties in the shootout.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper Dominik Livaković made himself a national hero as he saved three of Japan’s four penalties, while Croatia scored three out of its four efforts. Mario Pasalic struck the decisive spot-kick to send his side into the next round.

Croatia forward Ivan Perisic, who was denied by Japan’s goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda in the opening minutes, pulled them level 10 minutes into the second half after meeting Dejan Lovren’s cross with a powerful header.

With the scores deadlocked at 1-1 after an absorbing 90 minutes, Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma went closest in the scrappy half-hour of extra time, forcing Croatian goalkeeper Dominic Livakovic to parry away his powerful drive.

Livakovic saved penalties from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida before Pasalic netted the winning spot-kick.