Croatia cruise, Swiss acquire divided win

• Croatia and Switzerland explain critical wins on Thursday
• Croats infer too clever for Greece in a initial leg in Zagreb
• Ricardo Rodriguez’s chastisement gives a Swiss feat in Northern Ireland

Croatia and Switzerland stepped closer towards earning gift for a 2018 FIFA World Cup Russiaâ„¢ after first-leg victories in their two-leg European section play-off ties on Thursday evening. Croatia eased to a gentle 4-1 feat during home to Greece, while Switzerland scored a second-half chastisement to acquire a profitable 1-0 win in Northern Ireland.

The opening of a dusk came during a Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, as Croatia scored 3 times in a initial half to palliate past Greece. Captain Luka Modric non-stop a scoring from a chastisement symbol on 13 mins before Nikola Kalinic doubled a home side’s advantage with a neat finish 6 mins later.

The Greeks replied on a half-hour symbol with a header from captain Sokratis Papastathopoulos, though Ivan Perisic done certain a Croats had a two-goal lead during a mangle after streamer home Sime Vrsaljko’s excellent cranky 3 mins later. Andrej Kramaric afterwards found a scoresheet shortly after a mangle to safeguard Croatia take a gentle lead to a wilful divided leg in Piraeus on Sunday.

Luka Modric has Croatia good on a approach to a World Cup berth! #CROGRE #WCQ ⚽️

https://t.co/PJSNsKZBPy pic.twitter.com/zV4bDTUvwi

— Getty Images Sport (@GettySport) November 9, 2017

Thursday’s other competition saw Switzerland win a tightly-contested opening leg event opposite Northern Ireland in Belfast. A goalless initial half saw a visitors emanate a best opportunities, with Haris Seferovic forcing a good save from Northern Ireland goalkeeper Michael McGovern.

The wilful impulse of a compare came only before a hour mark, as Switzerland were awarded a chastisement after Corry Evans was adjudged to have rubbed a round in a Northern Ireland chastisement area. Ricardo Rodriguez stepped adult to modify a spot-kick for his third idea in Russia 2018 subordinate and a visitors’ first-ever win during Windsor Park.

Both sides now spin their attentions to a wilful second leg in Basel on Sunday, with Northern Ireland wanting to overcome a one-goal total necessity divided from home.

– No group managed to validate after losing #WCQ play-off 1st leg during home.
– No group came behind from 4-1 defeat.
– One group overcame a better in a initial leg of #WCQ play-offs: FRA kick UKR 3-0 during home after 2-0 divided better in 2013.

— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) November 9, 2017

The stat
100 – Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis reached his 100th top for a inhabitant group in his side’s 1-0 better by Switzerland in Belfast. Davis made his general entrance on 9 Feb 2005 in a 1-0 better to Canada.

Congratulations to @NorthernIreland captain Steven Davis on reaching 100 caps for your country. Here’s a word from your manager! #WCQ pic.twitter.com/GcjKf01kEz

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 9, 2017

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=11/news=croatia-cruise-swiss-earn-away-win-2919281.html