U-17: CROATIA - MALI 0:1 (0:1)
FIFA U-17 World Cup, quarter-final.
Estadio Nelson Oyarzun Arenas, Chillan.
Referee: E. Caceres (Paraguay)
Goals: 0:1 - Koita (20')
Yellow cards: Dante (37'), Sosa (90')
Croatia: Šemper, Sosa, Erlić, Kalaica, Hudećek, Đurasek (82' Babić), Ivanušec, Brekalo, Moro, Majić (63' Delić), Lovren (73' Đira). Head coach: D. Bašić.
Mali: Samuel, Dante, Simpara, Sangare, Maiga (56' Ismael), Diakite, Malle, Boubacar (84' Sory), Fofana, Haidara, Koita. Head coach: B. Ba
foto: Getty Images
Croatia U-17 national team has been eliminated in World Cup quarterfinals stage. Mali won 1:0 to reach the semifinals.
The Africans have tried to score more often in the first half, and succeeded in 20th minute, when Koita clinically sent the ball into Šemper's bottom corner.
foto: Getty Images
Dario Bašić's men started the second half in better fashion, but failed to make their chances count, while Mali continued to create dangerous situation in counterattacks, with Šemper responding. However, the outcome remained unchanged.
foto: Getty Images
"In the first half we did not play as we should have played against a team like Mali. In the second half we could play our style of quick passes, but we didn’t show the level of the previous matches and we did not deserve to win today. We have made big strides. We are a small country but could reach this stage and had a good tournament. Anyway, I’m really sad, because I sincerely think that we lost a big opportunity. My feeling here, especially after beating Nigeria and Germany was that we could go the whole way. Maybe not winning, but staying until the end", said Croatia head coach Dario Bašić speaking to FIFA.com after the match.
