Canada 3-3 Croatia: 2010 Senior World Cup

Burt Hatch sent off as Canada gets off to shaky start in the World Cup.
The first shot of the game was a fairly tame effort from Carlos Eldridge which was easily saved by Pravdan Brzovic. The game started out as very defensive, but, after seven successive passes, Croatia carved out the first dangerous chance of the game, and made it count. Zlatko Marinovic's finish left Angel Vang with no chance and it was 1-0 for the Balkan nation. Canada equalised with a lot of help from Croatian defender Svebor ufic. After Eldridge's long-range effort was blocked by Brzovic, ufic tried to clear, but his attempt was blocked accidentally by his own goalkeeper, and the ball ricocheted agonizingly towards the net. Croatia were shocked, which allowed Canada to take the lead just four minutes later. Burt Hatch passed to Eldridge, who played a short one-touch ball to Shad Marcus, and the midfielder sent a blistering 25-yard drive into the top corner on the keeper's right hand side. The game was now starting to open up, with Vang saving Marinovic's tight-angle shot and Sal Covington hitting a free kick on the edge of the box just high and wide. Croatia were given a lifeline when Fabijan Savicevic was put through on goal and Burt Hatch had to bring him down, which resulted in a straight red card for the Canadian defensive midfielder. Off the resulting free kick, Mileta Hr ic crossed to Marinovic, who was unlucky to see his shot rattle the bar. Savicevic then forced a good save from Vang, while at the other end, Perry Ferreira went on a breakaway, but was foiled by Brzovic. The goalkeeper made a couple more decent saves before half-time, and so the score at the break was 2-1 for Canada.
The second half couldn't have started better for the North Americans. Leslie Love received the ball, beat a couple Croatian players and unleashed a low shot which went straight at Brzovic. The goalkeeper should have saved it easily, but somehow he let the ball trickle in to give ten-man Canada a two-goal cushion. They nearly got their fourth when Ferreira latched onto Covington's pass, swiveled, and unleashed a shot that hit the crossbar. He then battled with two Croatian defenders for the rebound, and ended up testing Brzovic with a close-range effort, though it was comfortably saved by the goalkeeper. Croatia were right back in the game after Zrinko Jadre ic let one go from a long way out. Like Canada's third goal, the shot was heading straight towards the keeper, but Vang couldn't save it, and it was now just 3-2. The Europeans were searching for the equaliser, ans substitute Emil Trevi an hit the ball just wide, as, on the other side of the pitch, Ferreira went close himself. The elusive third goal came for Croatia when Kristijan Prosinecki's 30-yard effort sailed over the head of Vang and dropped into the net. Desperately trying to get Canada back into the lead, Carlos Eldridge hit the woodwork following Marcus' free kick. It would be the striker's last contribution to the game, as he was replaced by Jules Calvert. Canada attacked desperately for the last ten or so minutes of the game, but the closest they game to scoring a winner was when Love's shot missed the target. 3-3 was the final score.
There are no easy games in the world cup, but if we had to win a single game in this competition, this would probably have been our best chance. We are by no means done, but if we lose against Finland in the next game, we'll need to beat Mexico just to have a chance at going to the knock-out stages. Still, although this game was closer than the stats suggest (10-4 SC's for Canada), Canada were a bit unlucky not to win. To Croatia's credit, they got their tactic right, and were unlucky to see us equalise in the first half with an own goal.
Canada went with the exact same formation and line-up that took the field against Wales in the fateful last qualification game: a 3-1-3-3. Croatia countered with a 3-3-2-2, containing an upside-down pentagon midfield.
The man of the match is a difficult one. Marinovic and defensive midfielder Franjo Frankopan were both impressive for Croatia, but I think Frankopan is worthy of man of the match. For Canada, Eldridge and Love both put in very good performances, and Cyrille McCullough was great in defence. I'd say Eldridge was our best player in this game.
As well as Burt Hatch's expulsion, the referee handed out four yellow cards, three to Croatia. Erik Vilicic, Mladen Rajevic, and Borna Vrsalovic were booked, as well as Eldridge for Canada.