In one of the quickest goals of FIFA 2022, Canada stunned their opponents Croatia as they scored the opening goal of the match just 68 seconds into the first half when Alphonso Davies sent a header into the Croatian net. However, the 2018 runners-up held their nerve and overcame the early tragedy to decimate the Canadians 4-1 in Match 28 of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Khalifa International Stadium.
The match begins with Canada rolling the ball and taking charge. Just 1 minute into the half, the world and the Croatians are hit by a bolt out of the blue. Just 68 seconds in, Borjan sprayed it far and wide to the right, Buchanan calmly pings the ball into the box and Davies rises high to turn it in. Seemingly one of the quickest goals in world cup history, and Canada are 1-0 up against Croatia.
36 minutes into the first half, a neat finish by Kramaric after being played through by Perisic allowed the former to put the ball past Dominik Livakovic at the goal, allowing Croatia to level the score 1-1 after an early blow by the Canadians. Nearing the end of the first half, Croatia doubled their lead with a fantastically worked goal by Livaja who got ample space at the edge of the box and pushed the ball into the bottom left corner. It was a shaky piece of defense displayed by the Canadians, allowing the Croatians to capitalize.
The second half gets underway. The first few minutes see the Croatians enter severe attacking mode as Captain Modric dashes in from the right in the 53rd minute, and squares the ball into the box to Kramaric, who takes the shot and that is saved by the keeper. 56 minutes into the match, David Osorio sends in a shot from the edge of the Croatian box and that is tipped over the bar by goalie Likavokic. 70 minutes in, Croatia stretches their lead to 3-1 as Kramaric scores his second goal of the match. Perisic sends in a magnificent cross across the field that finds Kramaric, who takes it past the Canadian defense, and nails it into the goal. Canada is totally shaken by this onslaught from the Croatians.
The 80th minute almost saw Croatia score their fourth goal after a lot of back-and-forth passes inside the Canadian box with the final shot fired right into the Canadian goalkeeper. With the match approaching the end and Croatia ascertained a dominating win, Zlatko Dalic calls in to replace all his superstars in one move in the 86th minute. Orsic, Palisic, and Majer are called in to replace Perisic, Kovacic, and captain Luca Modric. Time to relax for the big boys after a job well done!
7 minutes were added to the second half as Croatia sat comfortably with a 3-1 lead over the Canadians with no chances of losing or a draw. But Kenny Miller, the only Canadian player in their half, makes a huge slip as he dramatically lets the ball away, and Mislav Orsic takes the ball in his possession and races away with Lovro Majer aiding him from the side. Orsic has only the Canadian goalkeeper to beat as he crosses the ball to Majer, who conveniently sends it past the goalie to score the fourth and final goal of the match.
Croatia did exceptionally well to absorb an early blow before revving into gear at the World Cup with two goals from Andrej Kramaric securing a 4-1 victory over Canada.
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