In dramatic excitement, Croatia knocks out Brazil in World Cup quarterfinals

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Croatia knocked Brazil out of the World Cup on Friday, beating the five-time champions 4-2 on penalties to reach the semifinals for the second consecutive year.

Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved a penalty from Rodrygo and Marquinhos later hit the post.

The game ended 1-1 after extra time, with both goals coming in the remaining 30 minutes. Neymar scored late in the first half of extra time to put Brazil ahead but Croatia equalized when Bruno Petkovic scored in the 117th.

Neymar’s goal put him among Brazil’s top scorer Pelé with 77 goals.

Next, Croatia face either Argentina or the Netherlands in a bid to return to the World Cup finals four years after losing the title to France.

Five of Croatia’s last six World Cup games have gone into overtime, including a penalty shoot-out win over Japan in the Round of 16 in Qatar. The team was successful in eight of the tournament’s last ten knockout games.

Brazil attempted to return to the semifinals for the first time since 2014. The side had not made the last four since the tournament was hosted eight years ago, when the Selecao were disgraced 7-1 against Germany.

Brazil were attempting to defeat European opponents in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time since beating Germany in 2002, when they last won.

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