In the second matchday of Group A, Croatia drew 2–2 with Georgia in Riga at Arena Riga, collecting a second consecutive point at the tournament.
Croatia created the vast majority of chances and finished the match with a huge attacking output (the official match report notes as many as 35 shots on target), but Georgia stayed alive thanks to outstanding goalkeeping and clinical moments.
Scorers (minute):
- 0–1: Antonio Sekulić (own goal, 6’)
- 1–1: Duje Kustura (16’)
- 2–1: Vitor Hugo de Lima da Silva (23’)
- 2–2: Vakhtang Kekelia (35’)
Key moments:
- Croatia’s goalkeeper Ante Piplica saved a penalty from Giorgi Ghavtadze.
- Croatia also earned a late penalty, but Franco Jelovčić was denied by Georgia keeper Ali Aslani, so it ended level.
With two draws from two matches, Croatia knew the situation was simple: victory was required in the final group game against hosts Latvia. The next match was scheduled for 28 January (16:30).
- Marinko Mavrović: said Croatia dominated “in every segment,” but lacked finishing, pointing out a missed chance from the 10m/“sixth foul” situation. Still, he stressed the point keeps Croatia alive and that the team must now focus fully on Latvia.
- Ante Piplica: praised the team’s performance and argued that Aslani’s goalkeeping was the main reason Croatia didn’t win. He also noted how unusual it was for penalties to be awarded to both teams, with neither converted.
- David Mataja: admitted he was not satisfied with the result, saying Croatia had “10–15 clear chances,” while Georgia scored twice from only a few shots on target. He underlined that qualification was still in Croatia’s hands—if they win the last game.
If you want, I can also translate the full Croatian quotes word-for-word (not just the summary), but I’ll keep them short so they stay readable.
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