Behind a record-tying three saves from goalkeeper Dominik Livaković in a penalty-kick shootout, Croatia advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals after defeating Japan in a tense, back-and-forth contest.
The Samurai Blue opened the scoring in the 43rd minute courtesy of Daizen Maeda, but Croatia answered back early in the second half thanks to Ivan Perišic’s 55th-minute strike.
After a goalless extra-time period, Livaković saved three of Japan’s four chances in the penalty-kick shootout with a masterful performance, and Mario Pašalić converted the decisive spot-kick to send the 2018 runner-up back to the quarterfinals. It marked the second straight World Cup in which a Croatian goalkeeper made three saves in a shootout to secure passage to the quarterfinals after Danijel Subasić accomplished the feat in Russia against Denmark.
