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Italy’s defence put up a stiff resistance to contain Croatia to a 1-1 draw in their Euro 2016 qualifying match at the San Siro on Sunday evening. Both teams scored their goals within the first 15 minutes of the match, but it was the Croatian attack which looked more likely to score for the rest of the match.
Gianluigi Buffon was called upon to come up with saves to keep out long-range efforts from Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric within the first 10 minutes of the match, but it was the Azurri who took the lead against the run of play in the 11th minute.
In the 15th minute, Ivan Perisic made up for an earlier miss by curling a low shot under Buffon’s body and getting the two teams back on level terms.
Ivica Olic’s header required a goal-line clearance just before the half-time mark. In the 61st minute, Ivan Rakitic released another long shot which required Buffon to be alert. In the 87th minute, it was Rakitic again who set up Perisic with a diagonal ball, but Perisic’s shot only rolled away agonizingly wide.
Croatia had to settle for a solitary point after their continued resolve in getting a lead bore no fruit; the draw leaves the two teams level atop Group H with 10 points apiece after four matches. Top two teams from groups automatically qualify for the main event.
Croatian midfielder Luka Modric also picked up an injury during the match, which is a possible cause of concern for his club Real Madrid.
Italy 1-0 Croatia: Antonio Candreva (11’)
Italy 1-1 Croatia: Ivan Perisic (15’)
Off-field fireworks held up match for 10 minutes
The match had to be temporarily suspended in the 75th minute after fans threw flares onto the pitch. Players were led out of the pitch for 10 minutes, during which time riot police entered the stands and tried to intervene. Brief clashes were reported from the latest incident of crowd trouble in Italian football.
UEFA has initiated investigations but initial reports suggest that the flares came from sections of Croatian fans in the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. Croatia coach Niko Kovac said, “It’s not the first time and it’s not accidental.
I hope the bodies in charge will find a way to solve the problem because it paints a bad picture of Croatia. I was ashamed and I apologised to the Italians after the game. There were families with children up there.”
