Iceland 1 Croatia 2: Perisic strikes late on to secure maximum points | OneFootball

Iceland 1 Croatia 2: Perisic strikes late on to secure maximum points | OneFootball

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·26 June 2018

Iceland 1 Croatia 2: Perisic strikes late on to secure maximum points

Article image:Iceland 1 Croatia 2: Perisic strikes late on to secure maximum points

Ivan Perisic's late goal ensured Croatia topped World Cup Group D with maximum points as they knocked out a resilient Iceland with a 2-1 win in Rostov-on-Don.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's 76th-minute penalty gave Iceland hope of mounting a comeback following Milan Badelj's opener, but Perisic made sure of the points for Croatia in the dying embers.


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Croatia will now meet Denmark in the round of 16 in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday, while Iceland's maiden appearance at a World Cup comes to an end despite their best efforts to mount a comeback.

Badelj - who had previously rattled the woodwork - marked his first start of the tournament with a thumping 53rd-minute opener.

Sverrir Ingason rattled the bar with a header in response for Iceland, but the only way they could beat Croatia goalkeeper on his superb World Cup bow came from the spot.

Sigurdsson missed a penalty in Iceland's defeat to Nigeria on matchday two, but made no mistake this time with a finish high into the net after Dejan Lovren had handled in the area.

But Iceland's fighting spirit ultimately proved for nothing, Perisic securing a third successive win for Croatia, who will be joined in the last 16 by Argentina following their dramatic win over Nigeria.