Croatia keep up winning streak
Friday, March 25, 2005
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Croatia 2-1 Iceland Croatia maintain their 100 per cent record in qualifying Group 8 by coming from behind.
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By Elvir Islamovic
Croatia kept up their perfect record from four UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 8 fixtures, but visitors Iceland were only beaten by an 81st-minute goal.
Confident visitors
A very solid Iceland team made it difficult for the home side, taking a surprise lead through Ingvi Rafn Gudmundsson on 42 minutes. The away team also had a goal disallowed for offside before Croatia staged their recovery.
Vukman on target
Slaven Bilic's team crucially got back on level terms before half-time, Neven Vukman's shot finding the net having travelled through a crowd of players. And the home side secured a victory with just nine minutes left, Luka Modric crossing from the right side for Mladen Bartulovic to score the winner.
Comfortable lead
Three points clear of Denmark with a game in hand, Croatia can double that lead and move closer to the play-offs by defeating Malta on Tuesday. Iceland, now three points behind the Danes who overcame bottom team Kazakhstan today, return to action at home to Hungary on 3 June.