News / World Cup 2018 Videos

Croatia beat Nigeria 2-0 to jump to top of the Group D

Saturday, 16 June 2018 7:36 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 19 June 2018 4:33 PM ]

Croatia's midfielder Luka Modric (hidden) celebrates scoring a penalty with his teammates during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group D football match between Croatia and Nigeria at the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad on June 16, 2018. (AFP)

Croatia and Nigeria, two teams with loads of talent and a chance are making a run at the 2018 World Cup, playing their opening game against each other on in Group D.

Both teams entered the match healthy and ready to go, both are confident about getting three points and they are also looked at as popular picks for under-the-radar teams to make a run in this competition.

Nigeria have qualified for five of the last six World Cups, so they are no stranger to competition. However, going against Croatiawith players who are playing their first ever World Cup might be tricky. The 1-1 draw achieved by an organised and highly-disciplined Iceland against Argentina earlier in the day has made this ‘Group of Death’ a lot more difficult.

More than 6000 Croatians have tried to make the atmosphere like a home match for the Vatreni, but the Croatians seem quite nervous in the opening stages.

32' - Goal! Croatia took the lead, through Oghenekaro Etebo's own goal. Modric crosses towards the near post, it's headed on by Mandzukic and then comes off Etebo's calf at the back post! The ball deflects into the bottom corner of the goal and there's nothing Uzoho can do about it on the 32rd minute of the match.

Unlucky Oghenekaro Etebo's own goal was the difference between the two sides in the first 45 minutes of the contest. Croatia have controlled the proceedings, but the clear chance on goal were very limited.

Time for second half action. The Croatia coach had a plan against Nigeria, a very risky one. Vatreni did not have a huge advantage in ball possession, as expected, but after the own goal by Nigeria, everything seems to be easier for Zlatko Dalic's side. It wasn't the best first 45 minutes for Croatia, but the scoreboard is on their side.

54' -There has been more attacking intent by Nigeria since after the interval but they have yet to make it count with a meaningful effort at goal.

70' - Penaly for Croatia. And yellow card for NIgeria's William Ekong. Ekong brings Mandzukic down in the penalty area and the Real Madrid man steps up and he coolly slots it to the goalkeeper's right.

94' - The final whistle sounds. After this victory Croatia would head to the top of Group D. Their World Cup is beginning much better than Brazil 2014, where they crashed to a 3-1 defeat to hosts Brazil, in a game that also involved an own goal opener.

An Oghenekaro Etebo owngoal and Luka Modric penalty conversion sees Croatia beat Nigeria 2-0 at the Kaliningrad Stadium.

They have won their opening game of a World Cup for the first time since 1998. That time they had went on to reach the semi-finals and finish 3rd in that tournament.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

World Cup