Klaus Gjasula turned from villain to hero for Albania after canceling out an own goal in stoppage time with an equalizer to salvage a point for a 2-2 draw with Croatia.
Ante Budimir looked to have inspired Croatia to a comeback victory when he was involved in two goals in two minutes following Qazim Laci’s early strike, but they could not hold on.
Albania took the lead in the 11th minute when Jasir Asani curled a wonderful cross to the near post for Laci, who headed it past Dominik Livakovič near his post.
They should have led 3-0 at the break; Croatia cut down Asani’s through ball, but Kristjan Asllani headed straight at the keeper, who later held out Rey Manaj’s pinpoint header.
Zlatko Dalič started the second half determined, but it wasn’t until Budimír’s introduction in the 69th minute that everything came together.
Five minutes later, he deftly flicked the ball to Kramaric, who put Thomas Strakosh’s wrong-footed equalizer into the bottom corner on his 33rd birthday.
Just like against Italy on Saturday, Albania struggled to get back. Moments later, Budimir’s cross was met by Luka Sušič, but Berat Djimsiti’s block deflected off a hapless Gjasula and into the net.
Deep into stoppage time, Gjasula made amends for the incident, latching on to Mario Mitaj’s cross to curl a low shot past Livakovic and into the bottom left corner.
Leave a comment