CROATIA - NORWAY 5:1 (1:0)
European Qualifiers, Group H.
Zagreb, Maksimir Stadium.
Referee: C. Vellasco Carballo (Spain)
Goalscorers: 1:0 - Brozović (30'), 2:0 - Perišić (54'), 3:0 - Olić (66'), 3:1 - Tettey (81'), 4:1 - Schildenfeld (87'), 5:1 - Pranjić (90+3')
Yellow cards: Linnes (32'), Nordtveit (36'), Elyounoussi (36'), Ćorluka (68', 74'), Samuelsen (82')
Red card: Ćorluka (74')
Croatia: Subašić, Srna, Vida, Ćorluka, Pranjić, Brozović, Modrić, Perišić, Rakitić (76' Schildenfeld), Olić (70' Kramarić), Mandžukić (88' Badelj). Head coach: N. Kovač.
Norway: Nyland, Linnes, Nordtveit, Forren, Hogli, Skjelbred (19' Samuelsen), Tettey, Johansen, Daehli (61' Nielsen), Odegaard, Elyounoussi (80' Abdellaoue). Head coach: P.M. Hogmo.
foto: Gordan Laušić
In front of 25,000 crowd at Maksimir, Croatia reached its goal and sealed another victory in search of EURO 2016 berth.
Norwegian resistance was not easy to break. From the very first minute, the guest were extremely disciplined and agile, always ready to disrupt Croatian ideas. Marcelo Brozović was the only one to try a shot in the first 20 minutes.
Hogmo's men had several excursions towards Danijel Subašić, only to meet Domagoj Vida's excellent interventions. Brozović finally found the target after half an hour. Ivica Olić assisted just outside of the box, with the Inter midfielder successfully aiming low past Orjan Nyland. Croatia took that lead to the second half.
foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
Ten minutes after the restart, Ivan Perišić managed to put a similar strike past Nyland after combining with Ivan Rakitić, with a resourceful Ivica Olić to celebrate his rewards for 100 caps by scoring Croatia's third goal in 66th minute.
However, Norway was soon given a chance from the penalty spot, but Tarik Elyounoussi hit the post, and Subašić and Srna blocked Samuelsen's follow-up. Croatia's biggest defensive issue was the expulsion of Vedran Ćorluka in 74th minute, after his second bookable offense. He is to miss the all-important match against Italy in June.
Norway took advantage, forced a couple of brilliant interventions from Croatia goalie Subašić, but Gordon Schildenfeld and Danijel Pranjić scored their first international goals in the closing minutes to put the match out of the guests' reach.
foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
Azerbaijan beat Malta 2:0, while Bulgaria drew 2:2 with Italy.
Group H:
1. Croatia 13
2. Italy 11
3. Norway 9
4. Bulgaria 5
5. Azerbaijan 3
6. Malta 1
