Controversy as Villa keeper handed second yellow for shootout crowd taunting... but isn't sent off
Emi Martinez was saved by a new rule that resets yellow cards at the end of extra time, meaning his second yellow for taunting…
The dream is over for Russia as they fall on penalties to Croatia after another stunning effort on home soil.
The fans will be proud of their team yet lamenting a lost chance at a World Cup semi-final after the teams were locked at 2-2 after 120 minutes in Sochi. Penalties were required to separate the teams and it was the sure-footed Croatians who held their nerve and completed their own fairytale run to the semi-finals.
Click here to re-live The Roar‘s live blog.
The Russians began enthusiastically, sitting off the Croatians and countering with venom. Denis Cheryshev scored his fourth goal of the tournament in stunning fashion with a bomb from outside the area after half and hour, before Andrej Kramaric levelled things up with a precise header just a few minutes later.
Locked at half-time, the match continued in the same style early in the second period with Croatia dominating possession and the Russians looking for chances on the break. Extra time loomed with neither team able to make the breakthrough and it took 100 minutes before Domagoj Vida found the net to put Croatia in the lead and seemingly through to the semi-finals.
However, the Russians had one more dramatic moment to share as Mario Fernandes scored with just five minutes of extra-time remaining. The crowd tried to ride the Russians home to victory and if not for some heroics by Danijel Subasic in the Croation goal, they may have snatched the win.
Penalties seemed more likely and Croatia were perfect from the spot while hero Fernandes blazed wide and opened the door for them. Luka Modric’s penalty was shaky but it found the mark and off the back of Ivan Rakitic’s final strike, Croatia moved their way into a semi-final with England.
What a match, what a tournament and what a win for Croatia.
Emi Martinez was saved by a new rule that resets yellow cards at the end of extra time, meaning his second yellow for taunting…
This season the top five leagues rankings of European football have been flipped on its head, as new competition heavyweights emerge. Just look at…
In all likelihood, just sixth spot remains up for grabs as we approach the final three rounds of A-League action in season 2023/24 and…
Not only did Erling Haaland's header hit the bar, but Bernardo Silva missed the rebound tap-in that came off his knee. Manchester City went…
After Manchester City saved Luka Modric's shot, the person in the stands didn't return the ball, holding up the penalty shootout for almost a…
Bayern Munich scored the only goal to defeat Arsenal 1-nil and progress to the semifinals. Former player Martin Keown says it's disappointing his former…