The Vatreni remain on top

Lone Turkey goal leaves Croatia empty-handed

05.09.2017.

Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS

On Tuesday, Croatia suffered its second defeat of the 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign, as Turkey celebrated a 1:0 win in Eskisehir.

TURKEY - CROATIA 1:0 (0:0)
2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Group I.
Eskisehir Yeni Atatürk Stadium, Eskisehir.

Referee: V. Kassai (Hungary)

Goals: 1:0 - Tosun (75')

Cautions: Tosun (9'), Calhanoglu (39'), N. Kalinić (45'), Perišić (66'), Badelj (90+2'), Brozović (90+4')

Turkey: Babacan, Erkin, Topal, Soyüncü, Ayhan, Özyakup, Sahin (87' Yokuslu), Turan (70' Mor), Calhanoglu, Tosun, Yilmaz (82' Tufan). Head coach: M. Lucescu.

Croatia: Subašić, Pivarić, Lovren, Vida, Vrsaljko (84' Čop), Modrić, Badelj, Brozović, Kovačić (71' Kramarić), Perišić, N. Kalinić (62' Mandžukić). Head coach: A. Čačić.

Following the 1:0 home victory over Kosovo in Zagreb on Sunday, Croatia lost to a same scoreline against Turkey in Eskisehir.

It was an exciting beginning, though. Five minutes into the match, Kovačić's promising effort was saved by Babacan, and the post saved Turkey following the captain Modrić's set-piece on ten minutes.

Tosun soon responded missing from close range, and while Croatia managed to tighten the pressure on several occasions, Ante Čačić's men did not make the most out of these moves.

The opening minutes of the second half provided more opportunities for Croatia: Lovren and Perišić tried their header, with Perišić missing a great chance on 57 minutes, shooting just wide. On the other side of the pitch, Ayhan and Yilmaz strikes went off the target.

Brozović wanted to find the top corner on 74 minute, and Turkey soon answered with a goal. Subašić palmed Özyakup's effort, only for Tosun to find the net and secure the hosts a very important win.

This evening, Iceland defeated Ukraine at home 2:0, while Finland topped Kosovo away 1:0. Croatia's next challenge is Finland in Osijek (6 October), before visiting Ukraine (9 October).

2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Group I:
1. Croatia 16
2. Iceland 16
3. Turkey 14
4. Ukraine 14
5. Finland 7
6. Kosovo 1

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