Post by tyson on Mar 22, 2010 3:17:33 GMT -5
www.uefa.com/under17/matches/season=2010/round=15347/match=2001720/report/
Clinical Croatia finish off Romania
Published: Sunday 21 March 2010, 17.03CET
Romania 0-3 Croatia
Marko Livaja, Kruno Ivančić and Ivan Jakov Džoni struck before the break to leave Croatia within a point of the finals.
Croatia are one point away from the UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals after ending Romania's hopes with three unanswered first-half goals.
Aiming to follow up an opening 2-1 defeat of elite round Group 2 hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia had the game won by the break thanks to Marko Livaja, Kruno Ivančić and Ivan Jakov Džoni. They now will ensure a place in Liechtenstein if they draw with Portugal on Wednesday.
Romania were hoping to improve on their 4-1 opening loss to Portugal but on nine minutes Džoni advanced down the right and found Livaja in a perfect position to score. Five minutes later, Ivan Aleksić's corner was turned in by the head of Ivančić, and the third goal arrived on the half-hour as Džoni beat Romania goalkeeper Iustin Aliin Popescu at the second attempt. Džoni went close after the break but the game was won.
Ivan Gudelj, the Croatia coach, said afterwards: "In the first half we played great. Afterwards we were a little weaker but we had control of the game. Now we will play Portugal, a very strong team. We will try to keep tight and take the point that will take us to the European Championship." Florin Cheran, Romania's coach, added: "Croatia deserved to win. The difference is obvious because our opponents were better prepared and stronger than us."
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www.uefa.com/under17/matches/season=2010/round=15347/match=2001706/report/index.html
Fortune favours Croatia in Sarajevo
Published: Friday 19 March 2010, 16.26CET
Croatia 2-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
An own goal 15 minutes from time gave Croatia a winning start to Group 2 and coach Ivan Gudelj admitted "we had more luck".
A stroke of luck gave Croatia victory against UEFA European Under-17 Championship elite round Group 2 hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Croatia had the better of play but with 15 minutes left the score was 1-1. Then Bosnia-Herzegovina goalkeeper Kristijan Jajalo misjudged Ivan Kukavica's back pass and the ball rolled in.
Croatia had most of the possession but forwards Kruno Ivančić and Marko Livaja were having little joy up front. Ivančić did force a save from Jajalo and the deadlock was finally broken seven minutes before the break, Ivan Aleksić surprising the hosts with a quickly-taken free-kick from 20 metres out.
Bosnia-Herzegovina equalised on 51 minutes, Zdenko Bilač sending forward a long ball met by a powerful shot from substitute Deni Mirza at the edge of the box. Livaja nearly restored Croatia's lead within two minutes but Jajalo pulled off a double save. However, the goalkeeper's day was to turn decisively with the winning goal.
Croatia coach Ivan Gudelj said: "We had more luck then Bosnia-Herzegovina. We played well only in patches, while our opponent were very aggresive. The most important thing is victory. A good start is very important in this kind of tournament."
On Sunday his team face a Romania side that today lost 4-1 to Portugal. The winners await Bosnia-Herzegovina, whose coach Velimir Stojnić said: "I think we played better than Croatia, but didn't convert our chances. We must stay focused, as nothing is yet decided in this group."
Clinical Croatia finish off Romania
Published: Sunday 21 March 2010, 17.03CET
Romania 0-3 Croatia
Marko Livaja, Kruno Ivančić and Ivan Jakov Džoni struck before the break to leave Croatia within a point of the finals.
Croatia are one point away from the UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals after ending Romania's hopes with three unanswered first-half goals.
Aiming to follow up an opening 2-1 defeat of elite round Group 2 hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia had the game won by the break thanks to Marko Livaja, Kruno Ivančić and Ivan Jakov Džoni. They now will ensure a place in Liechtenstein if they draw with Portugal on Wednesday.
Romania were hoping to improve on their 4-1 opening loss to Portugal but on nine minutes Džoni advanced down the right and found Livaja in a perfect position to score. Five minutes later, Ivan Aleksić's corner was turned in by the head of Ivančić, and the third goal arrived on the half-hour as Džoni beat Romania goalkeeper Iustin Aliin Popescu at the second attempt. Džoni went close after the break but the game was won.
Ivan Gudelj, the Croatia coach, said afterwards: "In the first half we played great. Afterwards we were a little weaker but we had control of the game. Now we will play Portugal, a very strong team. We will try to keep tight and take the point that will take us to the European Championship." Florin Cheran, Romania's coach, added: "Croatia deserved to win. The difference is obvious because our opponents were better prepared and stronger than us."
----------------
www.uefa.com/under17/matches/season=2010/round=15347/match=2001706/report/index.html
Fortune favours Croatia in Sarajevo
Published: Friday 19 March 2010, 16.26CET
Croatia 2-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
An own goal 15 minutes from time gave Croatia a winning start to Group 2 and coach Ivan Gudelj admitted "we had more luck".
A stroke of luck gave Croatia victory against UEFA European Under-17 Championship elite round Group 2 hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Croatia had the better of play but with 15 minutes left the score was 1-1. Then Bosnia-Herzegovina goalkeeper Kristijan Jajalo misjudged Ivan Kukavica's back pass and the ball rolled in.
Croatia had most of the possession but forwards Kruno Ivančić and Marko Livaja were having little joy up front. Ivančić did force a save from Jajalo and the deadlock was finally broken seven minutes before the break, Ivan Aleksić surprising the hosts with a quickly-taken free-kick from 20 metres out.
Bosnia-Herzegovina equalised on 51 minutes, Zdenko Bilač sending forward a long ball met by a powerful shot from substitute Deni Mirza at the edge of the box. Livaja nearly restored Croatia's lead within two minutes but Jajalo pulled off a double save. However, the goalkeeper's day was to turn decisively with the winning goal.
Croatia coach Ivan Gudelj said: "We had more luck then Bosnia-Herzegovina. We played well only in patches, while our opponent were very aggresive. The most important thing is victory. A good start is very important in this kind of tournament."
On Sunday his team face a Romania side that today lost 4-1 to Portugal. The winners await Bosnia-Herzegovina, whose coach Velimir Stojnić said: "I think we played better than Croatia, but didn't convert our chances. We must stay focused, as nothing is yet decided in this group."