ZAGREB (REUTERS) - Croatia were forced to dig deep as they came from behind to beat unfancied Azerbaijan 2-1 at home in their opening Euro 2020 Group E qualifier after forward Andrej Kramaric scored a 79th winner on Thursday (March 21).
In the group's other fixture, Slovakia eased to a 2-0 home win against Hungary thanks to midfielder Ondrej Duda's first-half opener and Albert Rusnak's 85th-minute goal in Trnava.
The Croatians dominated from the start at Maksimir stadium but the Azeris stunned the vocal home crowd when forward Ramil Sheydaev gave them a 19th-minute lead with a superb goal.
Sheydaev, who came close to scoring two minutes earlier, beat central defender Duje Caleta-Car with some neat footwork before drilling the ball past keeper Lovre Kalinic.
Croatia piled on the pressure and captain Luka Modric glanced a header just wide from a cross by Borna Barisic shortly before the left back levelled with his first international goal.
Caleta-Car saw his header from a corner cleared off the line by Dmitri Nazarov but Barisic was well placed to scramble home the equaliser from close range in the 44th.
It looked set to be a frustrating night for Croatia as Azeri keeper Salahat Agayev made a string of fine saves in the second half to deny Modric, Bruno Petkovic and Josip Brekalo.
Agayev also dealt with a flurry of crosses from either flank as the packed visiting defence came under relentless pressure but he could do nothing about Kramaric's sumptuous strike.
A ricochet off a defender fell kindly for the striker, who side-stepped his marker before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the far corner from 15 metres to delight the home fans.
On Sunday (March 24), Wales open their Group E campaign at home to Slovakia while Croatia visit Hungary.
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group E - Croatia v Azerbaijan - Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia - March 21, 2019 Croatia's Domagoj Vida, Ivan Perisic and Borna Barisic in action with Azerb
Croatia vs. Azerbaijan - Football Match Summary - March 21
Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat Azerbaijan - espn.com
Get a summary of the Croatia vs. Azerbaijan football match. Kramaric's curler saves the day for Croatia. 1:24. 3/21/2019 Reuters Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat Azerbaijan.
Football: Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat
usasportsradar.com/soccer/football-kramaric-nets-late-winner-as-croatia-beat-azerbaijan-2-1/
Football: Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat Azerbaijan 2-1 March 21, 2019 ZAGREB (REUTERS) - Croatia were forced to dig deep as they came from behind to beat unfancied Azerbaijan 2-1 at home in their opening Euro 2020 Group E qualifier after forward Andrej Kramaric scored a 79th winner on Thursday (March 21).
Football: Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat Azerbaijan 2-1 ZAGREB (REUTERS) - Croatia were forced to dig deep as they came from behind to beat unfancied Azerbaijan 2-1 at home in their opening Euro 2020 Group E qualifier after forward Andrej Kramaric scored a 79th winner on Thursday (March 21).
Andrej Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat Azerbaijan 2
Euro 2020 Andrej Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat Azerbaijan 2-1. In the group`s other fixture, Slovakia eased to a 2-0 home win against Hungary thanks to midfielder Ondrej Duda`s first-half opener and Albert Rusnak`s 85th-minute goal in Trnava.
Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat Azerbaijan 2-1
ZAGREB (REUTERS) - Croatia were forced to dig deep as they came from behind to beat unfancied Azerbaijan 2-1 at home in their opening Euro 2020 Group E qualifier after forward Andrej Kramaric
Soccer: Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat Azerbaijan
Croatia were forced to dig deep as they came from behind to beat unfancied Azerbaijan 2-1 at home in their opening Euro 2020 Group E qualifier after forward Andrej Kramaric scored a 79th winner on
Croatia beat Azerbaijan as Kramaric nets late winner
Croatia were forced to dig deep as they came from behind to beat unfancied Azerbaijan 2-1 at home in their opening Euro 2020 Group E qualifier after forward Andrej Kramaric scored a 79th winner on Thursday, Reuters reports.
Soccer-Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat Azerbaijan 2-1
Croatia were forced to dig deep as they came from behind to beat unfancied Azerbaijan 2-1 at home in their opening Euro 2020 Group E qualifier after forward Andrej Kramaric scored a 79th winner on
Football: Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat
ZAGREB, March 21 (Reuters) - Croatia were forced to dig deep as they came from behind to beat unfancied Azerbaijan 2-1 at home in their opening Euro 2020 Group E qualifier after forward Andrej Kramaric scored a 79th winner on Thursday. In the group's other fixture, Slovakia eased to a 2-0 home win
Football: Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat
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