Albania struck an injury-time aim to grab a draw from a pulsating Group B conflict towards Croatia.
Soccer means extra 😤#EURO2024 | #CROALB pic.twitter.com/vYmxJrnOqB
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 19, 2024
Two late objectives in as many minutes seemed like they might be sufficient for Croatia to keep away from one of many greatest upsets in European Championship historical past as they got here from behind to steer 2-1 with 14 minutes remaining.
Simply as they did of their opening defeat towards Italy, Albania took the lead within the Group B conflict in Hamburg by means of Qasim Laci’s early header.
A dynamic and disciplined show noticed them maintain that benefit till 16 minutes from time when Andrej Kramaric swept residence the equaliser on his thirty third brthday earlier than an unlucky aim from Klaus Gjasula turned the sport forward.
Nevertheless 5 minutes into added time Albania piled ahead and Gjasula swept residence the newest equaliser in European Championship historical past to spark wild celebrations.
It means Albania will want a win towards Spain to face any likelihood of progressing to the Spherical of 16 of their closing sport, whereas Croatia can solely progress by beating Italy.
Dream begin for minnows
The workforce ranked 65th within the Fifa rankings confronted 10th positioned Croatia and made one other shiny begin.
Midfielder Laci was handed a begin in midfield by coach Sylvinho and repaid his religion as he broke the impasse on 11 minutes when he timed his run completely by means of a static Croatia defence to look a header from an ideal cross from Jasir Asani underneath the grasp of keeper Dominik Livakovic, who may need achieved higher.
Marcelo Brozovic dragged an effort vast from the sting of he space on 20 minutes as Croatia discovered their toes and Lovro Majer’s curling cross was headed over by Bruno Petkovic.
On the different finish Elseid Hysaj lashed a bouncing ball over the Croatian bar on the half hour earlier than Livakovic made a vital save to disclaim Kristjan Asllani after he latched onto a through-ball from Asani which was deflected into his path with the aim at his mercy.
Thomas Strakosha gathered a long-range shot from Brozovic and Majer nodded vast of the upright as Croatia sought to show the tide however Albania’s power made the veteran pairing of Modric and Mateo Kovacic look sluggish, clearly having realized their lesson having sat again when forward towards Italy of their opening sport on Saturday.
Albania stored urgent and Manaj nearly doubled the lead when his downward header was stopped by Livakovic in first-half stoppage-time.
Half-time modifications pay dividends
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic withdrew Majer and Brozovic in favour of Luca Sucic and Mario Pasalic on the interval and Croatia have been instantly on the entrance foot.
Sucic noticed a curling left-footed parried away by Strakosha’s sturdy hand – their first shot heading in the right direction – and Pasalic missed the goal inside 5 minutes of he restart whereas Kovacic noticed a 25-yard drive deflected into the arms of the keeper.
A Sucic cross was headed over by Petkovic whereas Luka Modric’s curling nook to the close to publish was one way or the other headed vast by Josip Sutalo from two yards out.
Ivan Perisic noticed a deflected strike claimed by Strakosha earlier than Albania launched their first assault of the half with Asllani working room to fireplace in a 25-yard effort which was handled by Livakovic.
Nedim Bajrami lashed vast of the angle of publish and bar on 68 minutes after being held up nicely by Josko Gvardiol but it surely was primarily one-way site visitors.
Three-minute turnaround 😱#EURO2024 | #CROALB pic.twitter.com/j3MawhSZe7
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 19, 2024
The Albanian resistance was lastly damaged on 74 minutes when the ball was labored into Kramaric who turned and pulled a low shot by means of the legs of defender Hysaj and contained in the close to publish previous the unsighted keeper.
An outstanding hand by Strakosha prevented a right away second as he slid out to thwart sub Ante Budimir however inside two minutes Croatia have been forward when Budamir bustled to the byline and squared to Luka Sucic who noticed his shot blocked by skipper Berat Djimsiti, just for the ball to cannon into the online off the knee of back-tracking midfielder Gjasula.
Late drama
Croatia noticed to place the sport on ice and Modric fizzed a low effort previous the publish however Livakovic needed to get down nicely within the dying seconds to maintain ALbania at bay whereas sub Mirlind Daku noticed a shot blocked and hooked the rebound over.
The frantic finale got here to a crescendo when Gjasula burst into the field leaving his marker in his wake to side-foot residence a low pull-back from the left byline to stun the World Cup 2018 runners-up.
There was nonetheless time for Kovacic to check Strakosha from distance earlier than the ultimate whistle ensured a degree apiece which actually helps neither aspect’s hopes of progressing.
🇦🇱 Final-minute insanity 🤪#EURO2024 | #CROALB pic.twitter.com/3ZV6kX8uQE
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 19, 2024
