Most Popular Sports
All Sports
Show All

Croatia 2-2 Albania: Euro 2024 Group B result as Klaus Gjasulu equalises in injury time after Andrej Kramaric and an own goal turned the game following Qazim Laçi's opener

Euro / Group Stage
Volksparkstadion / 19.06.2024
Completed
2
2
Live
Live Updates
Paul Hassall

Updated 19/06/2024 at 15:05 GMT


--
FROM VILLAIN TO HERO FOR GJASULA AS ALBANIA STUN CROATIA
Klaus Gjasula followed up an own goal with a stoppage-time equaliser as Albania stunned Croatia to secure a 2-2 draw following a breathless Group B encounter in Hamburg.
Sylvinho’s Red and Black minnows struck the fastest goal in Euros history in their opener against Italy and they made another rapid start here as Qazim Laci squeezed a header home on 11 minutes.
Albania were perhaps guilty of being too passive in the remainder of their defeat to The Azzurri, but that wasn’t the case on this occasion as Kristjan Asllani and Rey Manaj both missed good opportunities to double the underdog’s tally.
Croatia were shaky at the back and pedestrian in possession but that all changed in the second half as they laid siege to the Albanian defence.
The pressure eventually told with two goals in two minutes. First, Kramaric cut a lovely finish into the bottom corner before a clinical move down the left ended with substitute Gjasula turning an unfortunate ricochet into his own net 14 minutes from time.
However, Gjasula would redeem himself in the fifth minute of stoppage time as he finished off a flowing move down the left to earn the minnows a priceless point.
The result sees Albania take third spot behind Italy and leaders Spain, who both have three points ahead of the top two in Group B facing off on Wednesday evening. Croatia sit bottom with a vastly inferior goal difference.
The Croatians will now face Italy on Monday evening with it all to do to reach the Last 16 while Albania will continue to dream against one of the tournament favourites Spain.
picture

Image credit: Getty Images

End of 2nd Half
90+9'
FULL TIME!
Croatia 2-2 Albania.
90+8'
YELLOW CARD!
Gjasula cautioned for halting a Croatia break illegally.
K. Gjasula
Yellow card
K. Gjasula
Albania
Albania
Goals1
Own goal1
On target1
Blocked Shots1
90+7'
WILL WE GET A WINNER HERE?
Suddenly Albania's tails are up!
90+5'
GOAL! - CROATIA 2-2 ALBANIA: (GJASULA)
From villain to hero! Klaus Gjasula redeems his own goal with a lovely, low finish to polish off a sharp move down the left.
K. Gjasula
Goal
K. Gjasula
Albania
Albania
Goals1
Own goal1
On target1
Fouls1
90+4'
ALBANIA ARE THROWING THE KITCHEN SINK AT CROATIA
It just won't fall neatly for an Albanian shirt as the ball pin balls around that Croatia box.
90+2'
STOPPAGE TIME
SIX minutes added.
90'
ALBANIA CHANCE
Daku can't find the finish under pressure from Dominik Livakovic after the 'keeper had spilled a low shot from 20 yards.
89'
CROATIA ATTEMPT
Modric almost seals it with a 25-yard strike that fizzes just past the far post.
89'
VIDEO: A LUCKY WINNER FOR CROATIA?
87'
TIME RUNNING OUT FOR ALBANIA
The Red and Blacks have put so much into this but look like coming up empty-handed again.
86'
ALBANIA CHANGE
Daku on.
M. Daku
On
M. Daku
Albania
Albania
R. Manaj
Off
R. Manaj
Albania
Albania
On target1
Blocked Shots1
Fouls2
Fouls against4
85'
ALBANIA CHANGE
Arbër Hoxha on.
A. Hoxha
On
A. Hoxha
Albania
Albania
Y. Ramadani
Off
Y. Ramadani
Albania
Albania
Fouls against3
Free Kicks2
85'
CROATIA CHANGE
Baturina on.
M. Baturina
On
M. Baturina
Croatia
Croatia
A. Kramaric
Off
A. Kramaric
Croatia
Croatia
Goals1
On target1
Fouls2
Fouls against1
84'
CROATIA CHANGE
Sosa on.
B. Sosa
On
B. Sosa
Croatia
Croatia
I. Perišic
Off
I. Perišic
Croatia
Croatia
Blocked Shots1
Fouls2
82'
YELLOW CARD!
Hysaj booked.
E. Hysaj
Yellow card
E. Hysaj
Albania
Albania
Blocked Shots1
Yellow Cards1
Wide1
80'
picture

Image credit: Getty Images

78'
DO ALBANIA HAVE ANYTHING LEFT IN THE TANK TO FIGHT BACK?
It's been all Croatia in this second period and there are some tired legs out there for Albania.
76'
GOAL! - CROATIA 2-1 ALBANIA: (GJASULA OWN GOAL)
It's two goals in two minutes as Vetrani turn the game on its head. Croatia cut Albania open down the left and an unfortunate ricochet off a block sees Klaus Gjasula divert into his own net.
74'
GOAL! - CROATIA 1-1 ALBANIA: (KRAMARIC)
Croatia's pressure eventually tells. Birthday Boy, Andrej Kramaric is found in space on the left side of the box and he turns inside before cutting a low finish into the bottom corner.
A. Kramaric
Goal
A. Kramaric
Croatia
Croatia
Goals1
On target1
Fouls2
Fouls against1