Euro 2020: In a 1-1 tie with Czech Republic, Croatia’s Ivan Perisic provides a lifeline

Croatia held Czech Republic to a 1-1 draw in Group D on Friday, keeping their slender hopes of qualifying for the European Championship knockout stages alive. Ivan Perisic struck a sensational second-half equalise.

Semi-finalists in the World Cup Croatia trailed the Czech Republic early on and were handed a major blow when center defender Dejan Lovren elbowed forward Patrick Schick inside the box, earning the Czechs a penalty.

With his third goal, Schick, who had a bloody nose from the challenge, lifted himself up to smash the ball into the bottom corner and move to the top of the tournament goalscoring chart.

After receiving the ball in the left channel, Croatian winger Perisic cut inside and unleashed a tremendous shot into the top corner two minutes after the break.

Croatia earned a point from their Euro 2020 match versus the Czech Republic, thanks to Ivan Perisic’s goal in the 47th minute.

When Ante Rebic got through at the opposite end, Croatia should have equalised right away, but the winger, who was playing in an unusual “false nine” style for the second game in a row, lacked Schick’s lethal instinct and cut horribly wide of goal.

After that, the Czechs had few good chances, though Schick might have done better with a header from a corner, and substitute Adam Hlozek also volleyed wildly over.

For Croatia, substitute Nikola Vlasic hit the crossbar with a header, but there was little else to thrill their supporters.

The draw gave Czech Republic a four-point lead in Group D, with England facing Scotland in their second-round match later on Friday.

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