Canada topped by Croatia on history-making night

MIAMI, Florida – It was a night of mixed emotions for Canada, who fell 4-1 to Croatia in Group F play of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

While the defeat eliminates Canada from advancing to the Knockout Stage of the tournament, the Concacaf nation did score their first ever Senior Men’s World Cup goal when Alphonso Davies found the back of the net just 68 seconds into the contest.

There was also a milestone achieved by Canada MF Atiba Hutchinson, who started and received his 100^th cap.

The history-making moment for Canada came inside the second minute of play, with Tajon Buchanan serving up an inch-perfect cross that Davies met with a piercing header to give Canada their first ever Men’s World Cup goal and a 1-0 lead.

Croatia collected themselves and started to create some chances of their own, pegging the Canadian defense back deep in their own half.

Alphonso Davies of Canada celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match between Croatia and Canada at Khalifa International Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Doha, Qatar

Moments after Canada GK Milan Borjan had to make a reaction kick-save to deny Marko Livaja in the 36’, the Croatia equalizer arrived off the foot of Andrej Kramaric, whose tidy finish past Borjan evened things up at 1-1.

The momentum was with the 2018 finalists and they found a go-ahead goal right before halftime when Livaja struck with a right-footed shot from just outside the area to make it 2-1 to Croatia.

Borjan came up with another top-notch save for his side in the 54’, diving to his right amid of sea of players to deny Kramaric. Less than a minute later it was Canada almost tying it up via a Jonathan David right-footed shot that was tipped over the crossbar.

But Kramaric would find a way through for his second goal of the night by gathering in a cross from the left, taking a touch to his left and depositing the ball into the net to extend the Croatia advantage to 3-1 in the 70’.

Croatia then rounded out the 4-1 scoreline in the 90+4’ through Lovro Majer, who completed a break with finish past Borjan.

Canada will now look to finish Qatar 2022 on a high note in their group stage finale versus Morocco on Thursday.