FIFA WC 2022: Croatia edge Japan 3-1 (1-1) on penalties to enter quarters
AL WAKRAH, Qatar: Croatia is going deep at another World Cup, and the team is taking the long route once again.
Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three penalty kicks Monday in Croatia's 3-1 win over Japan in a shootout, securing a return to the quarterfinals for the runner-up in the 2018 tournament.
On its run to the final four years ago, Croatia needed extra time in each round in the knockout stage — and twice came through a penalty shootout.
This time, Mario Pasalic converted the clinching penalty for Croatia after the teams were tied at 1-1 after extra time.
Livakovic saved penalties from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitomo and Maya Yoshida, and it was the Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper who took most of the acclaim from the jubilant Croatia team after the shootout.
Japan had been looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time but fell short again, just like in 2002, 2010 and 2018. The Asian team lost to Paraguay in a penalty shootout in the round of 16 in 2010.
Croatia, which also reached the semifinals in 1998, will play either Brazil or South Korea next.
In an even 90 minutes of regulation play, Daizen Maeda put Japan ahead in the 43rd minute by sweeping in a close-range finish. Ivan Perisic equalized by meeting Dejan Lovren’s cross from the right with a header into the bottom corner from near the penalty spot in the 57th.
The result guarantees at least one more World Cup game for 37-year-old Croatia captain Luka Modric, one of the best midfielders of his generation.
Since 1998, all of Croatia’s knockout matches at a World Cup or European Championship have gone to extra time except for the 2018 World Cup final loss to France.
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Thirteen Karnataka students return safely from Kashmir to New Delhi
Bengaluru: Thirteen students from Karnataka studying at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology in Srinagar have returned safely to New Delhi, due to the coordinated efforts of the Government of India.
It was facilitated by the Ministry of Steel and Heavy Industries under the close supervision of Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, his office said in a statement.
The group travelled from Srinagar to Jammu by bus and then onwards to Delhi by train, it said.
Officials from the Ministry of Steel and Heavy Industries received the students upon arrival at the railway station and personally escorted them, it said, adding that arrangements have been made for their safe journey to Bengaluru.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in moments like these is both inspiring and reassuring. His clear instructions and deep personal commitment to every citizen's welfare enabled swift coordination between departments. I commend our security agencies, railway personnel, and ministry officials who acted with precision and compassion. The safety of our people, especially students from distant regions, is our foremost priority," Kumaraswamy said.
The students expressed heartfelt gratitude to the prime minister, the Government of India and Union Minister Kumaraswamy.
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