FIFA World Cup: Croatia enters semis and shatters the Brazilian dream

Colombo (News 1st) - Croatia became the first team to advance to the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup when they narrowly defeated heavily favoured Brazil in a penalty shootout 4-2 after the teams were deadlocked at 1-1 at the end of extra time.

The Europeans shocked the world's number one ranked team and five-time champions Brazil at Education City Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

The game produced some scintillating football with neither side able to score during regulation time. The Croatians matched Brazil's high-Octane offfense, but the South Americans' stout defense kept the European team from scoring. Brazil had more than twice as many shots at goal as Croatia, whose goalie Dominik Livakovic proved up to the task.

In extra time, Brazil's fans went wild when star striker Neymar Jr. scythed through the Croatian defense brilliantly to score in the 106th minute. But ten minutes later, a lightning-fast move by Croatia resulted in Petkovic firing the ball into the net past diving Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker.