Croatia is through to semi-finals with 5-2 win over Japan

It was a comfortable win for the European team in the end. They went into the lead in the first quarter and held it the rest of the way. Japan had some good moments as well, but not enough to equalize it.

The Croatians got in front in eighth minute, when Marko Tadic scored above Osawa’s glove from between the circles. It took the European team just 50 seconds until Ivan Jankovic fired another one from the spot and because of Yoneyama’s deflection, Osawa had no chance to stop it.

Nishinaga tried to answer immediately and pushed himself in front of Croatian goal, but Tomljenovic was ready and stood strong. Trstenjak’s wrist attempt from top of circles had good parameters, but Osawa made the save as well and his teammates then managed pulled one down. Gentaro Tsuchimoto finished a powerplay combination of his team with an easy shot against an open net.

Japan had few more opportunities to equalize, but neither Kohda, neither Suzuki managed to take their chances. There were lots of intereceptions in the game and lots of good scoring opportunities. It was Croatians, who scored and increased the lead. Frano Srketic wristed it behind Osawa from a solo breakaway. Jan Novotny then made it 4:1 with another great passing play in the zone and easy finish.

The Croatians were a better side and those two goals calmed them down. They took control over the game and played well since then. They even scored one more, when Niksa Trstenjaka tipped in Cunko’s pass.

Asian team managed to score once more, when Shonsuke Yoneyama slipped through on the right side and hit the top corner precisely, but that was it from both sides. Even though the Japanese tried to score more playing with an extra attacker in the end.