The Croatian under-17 football team played the first match at the World Cup in Qatar against Senegal, and the match ended goalless.
It was the first appearance of the Croatian national team at the World Championship in this age group after 2015.
The Senegalese were more dangerous team in the opening 15 minutes, and Bakary Sonko threatened twice. First, in the 11th minute, after a corner kick, he headed a shot and hit the post, and in the 15th minute, his attempt was saved by the Croatian net keeper with a ten-meter foot. Matej Grahovac.
The chosen ones Marijana Budimir they had their first chance in the 17th minute. Duje Slišković got a chance to shoot from 15 meters, he was unimpeded, but he sent the ball over the crossbar.
In the 22nd minute, Patrik Horvat shot obliquely from the left side of the penalty area, but he also failed to force the Senegalese goalkeeper to intervene.
The Croatian juniors had the best opportunities in the first half in the final ten minutes. First, in the 38th minute, Petar Zvonimir Kostelac forced Vincent Gomis to make the first intervention with a precise shot from the left edge of the penalty area.
The Senegalese goalkeeper briefly deflected the ball to Tino Kusanović, but the Croatian striker messed up and failed to shootbecause Gomis threw himself at his feet and stole the ball.
In the 44th minute, Patrik Horvat shot first from a similar action. Gomis bounced straight at the foot of Jona Benkotić, who failed to catch the ball well with his left foot from about ten meters away, so that opportunity failed as well.
In the judge’s allowance is also Leon Jakirovic tried a shot after a corner, but his shot from ten meters was blocked by a Senegalese defender.
The second half of the duel offered significantly less dangerous actions at both ends of the field. Croatia was left without a single shot, while the Senegalese tried, but they were mostly bad shots. However, in the 87th minute, Mouhamed Daba’s header ended just over the crossbar.
In the referee’s addition is the Croatian coach Marijan Budimir requested a video assessment of a possible violation the Senegalese goalkeeper for a penalty kick. However, the Chilean referee Fernando Vejar Diaz correctly assessed the situation and in real time, so Croatia was left without a penalty kick.
In the second match in Group C, Costa Rica and the United Arab Emirates played 1-1, so all national teams have one point after the first round.
Croatian juniors will have their next performance on Thursday, November 6, at 4:15 p.m. CET, and their opponent will be the UAE national team.
Budimir: We were a little closer to victory
I would like to congratulate my players, they left the last atom of strength on a very hot day in Doha. I would divide the game into two halves. In the first half we were very good, we did everything we agreed to do, we controlled the game. We did not compete with them because they are a more motoric team, but through our mechanisms we came out, created chances, which, unfortunately, we did not manage to realizeBudimir said.
The second half was a little weaker, we unknowingly retreated a bit, fatigue and heat took their toll. But in all that, we didn’t allow them a big chance. Although I think we are were a little closer to victory, a draw is somehow the most realisticadded the menu.
(China)
