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Group H - Jamaica-Croatia, Croatia wins battle of newcomers |
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In their World Cup debuts, Croatia had far too much for Jamaica. Robert Prosinecki's goal in the 53rd minute snapped a tie and propelled the Croatian side to a 3-1 victory in a Group H meeting Sunday.
Off a set play on a free kick, Prosinecki took one dribble just outside the penalty area on the left side and looped a left-footed kick over Jamaica goalkeeper Warren Barrett, who tried to cut off the near post. The ball went inside the right post as Croatia took a 2-1 lead.
Croatia also received goals from Mario Stanic and Davor Suker as the Croats showed no jitters. The Croats established control of the match over the final 45 minutes to grab the three points and keep pace with Argentina, which recorded a 1-0 victory over Japan earlier.
Midfielder Robert Earle scored just at the start of injury time in the first half for Jamaica. The "Reggae Boyz," however, lacked fundamentals defending set plays, allowing Croatia to score two of its three goals in that method.
Croatia quickly established its offense as Suker fired an 18-yard shot just 15 seconds into the contest. Stanic failed to score on a header in the seventh, and Suker blew a breakaway three minutes later when he pushed his dribble too far ahead.
Jamaica had four corner kicks in a two-minute span, and in the 22nd minute, Croatian defender Robert Jarni had to head a ball off the goal line.
But Croatia broke through in the 27th minute. A corner kick on the right side was cut short and sent to Aljosa Asanovic on the right side. He sent a pass to an unmarked Slaven Bilic, who blasted a 12-yard shot off the crossbar. The rebound neatly fell to Stanic, who controlled it and moved it to his right foot, easily booting it in from 5 yards.
Zvonimir Soldo nearly made it 2-0 in the 34th minute when his 10-yard shot rang off the crossbar after a great setup by Stanic. Barrett made a save off a 12-yard shot by Suker, who one-timed a cross on the left side.
As injury time in the first half started, Jamaica drew level as defender Ricardo Gardner sent a cross from the left that Earle headed home into the left side of the net from 10 yards, sending Jamaica's fans into a frenzy for the half.
But that joy was short-lived as Croatia reasserted itself in the second half. An unmarked Stanic sent a 10-yard shot over the crossbar in the 47th minute and Asanovic sliced a 25-yard shot just outside of the left post.
After a foul gave Croatia a free spot to the left of the box, Prosinecki pushed his dribble one stride deeper before converting his looping shot off a sharp angle.
Jamaica nearly drew even in the same minute as striker Deon Burton bounced a header just wide of the right post from eight yards. Suker salted away the three points in the 69th minute, rocketing a 12-yard shot that deflected off the leg of Gardner and bounced over a falling Barrett to make it 3-1.
Croatia held a 20-9 advantage in shots and put 11 on net to Jamaica's four. Portuguese referee Vitor Melo Pereira booked three players -- two from Croatia and one from Jamaica.
Soldo was given a caution in the fifth minute and Dario Simic received a yellow card in the 59th minute. Burton was issued a caution in the 62nd minute for Jamaica.
The road for Jamaica does not get any easier as it plays group favorite Argentina at Paris on June 21. Croatia plays Japan the day earlier at Nantes.
