Russia 2-2 Croatia (aet, 3-4 on penalties): Ivan Rakitic eliminates hosts after dramatic shootout

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Standard Sport8 July 2018

Croatia beat hosts Russia 4-3 on penalties to setup a World Cup semi-final against England.

The quarter-final in Sochi finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra time, forcing both Croatia and Russia to a shootout for the second consecutive game.

Ivan Rakitic scored the winner from the spot as Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev dived the opposite direction. Akinfeev made one save during the shootout and nearly had another from Luka Modric, but the shot deflected off Akinfeev's hand, off the post and into the net.

Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic made one save in the shootout, blocking Fedor Smolov's attempt. He also watched Mario Fernandes shot miss the goal wide left.

Fernandes had been a hero for Russia earlier when his header in the 115th minute equalised and sent the match to penalties after Domagoj Vida's goal in the 101st had given Croatia a 2-1 lead.

Croatia are the first team to win consecutive penalty shootouts since Argentina in 1990 and it's the first time the host country has lost in a shootout since Italy in the same year.

Croatia are into the World Cup semi-finals for the second time and first since 1998. The Croatians lost to France in the semis 20 years ago.

Reporting by Reuters.

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