The Croatian national team is considered the favorite in Group L of the World Cup qualifying stage. This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
On Sunday, they played against Gibraltar at home. At the beginning of the match, Lovro Mayer made an accurate pass from the right wing.
The goalkeeper did not clear the ball far, but Toni Fruk was unable to direct the ball accurately towards the goal. Marko Pashalich received the ball from the right edge of the penalty area and struck with his left foot, but missed the near corner.
Mayer reached the ball that bounced off the defender's head and took a shot from seven meters, but the goalkeeper saved his goal. In the next situation, Mayer took a corner kick.
Pashalich took the ball on the left side of the penalty area and struck powerfully, but the ball hit the goalpost and bounced back. In the 30th minute, Pashalich crossed the ball from the right wing near the goalkeeper's line, and Toni Fruk scored with a precise header to the near corner, opening the score – 1:0.
After the break, Mayer directed a penalty kick to the right side, but the goalkeeper saved the ball. Franjo Ivanovich headed the rebound, but it did not enter the goal.
Pashalich left his opponent behind with excellent dribbling in front of the penalty area and struck powerfully, but the goalkeeper saved the ball again. Ivan Perishich passed from the left wing to Domagoy Bradarich, who made an accurate pass into the penalty area.
Mayer's header was blocked by a defender, but Luka Suchich directed the rebound accurately into the goal – 2:0. Luka Modrich entered the penalty area from the right wing and made a quick pass, but no one was at the far corner.
Mayer took a corner kick from the left wing, and Martin Erlich made a powerful header, directing the ball to the far corner. In the 90th minute, the score reached 3:0.
The Croatian team leads the group with a three-point advantage over their closest rival and also has an additional game. Even if they lose two matches, the Balkan representatives still have a chance to remain in first place.
The opposing team has not yet earned any points.
