WORLD CUP: Canada scores first goal but eliminated with 4-1 loss to Croatia

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AL RAYYAN, Qatar — It took 36 years for Canada to get back to the FIFA World Cup, and unfortunately for them, only two games to be eliminated from it.

Canada became the second team to be knocked out of contention for the next round at the 2022 tournament — following the footsteps of hosts Qatar — with a 4-1 loss to Croatia in front of 44,374 here at the Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday.

It was a disappointing result for Canada, who played extremely well in its opener against Belgium this past Wednesday, but still lost.

Not being able to pick up at least a point in the contest proved to be the downfall for John Herdman’s men, who came to Qatar with high expectations after qualifying in style atop of Concacaf. Canada scored the first goal against Croatia and were then overrun by the finalist from four years ago.

“I think we had a great start and a proud moment for us all those fans in the stadium and people back home,” Herdman said. “We got to celebrate something that we’ve been waiting a long time for. I think their second goal turned the tide that close to half time; we had to make tactical adjustments coming into the second half, that leaves you open.

“Then when you leave yourself open to a team like Croatia, they can make you pay on the transition and I thought they gave a master class on those transitional moments. But I’m proud of the lads. I thought they had their moments in the second half, at times, they had that control, we just couldn’t find that equalizer.”

The loss leaves Canada without a point from its first two games, while Croatia and Morocco each have four. Canada will conclude its tournament against Morocco on Thursday, with only three points up for grabs.

Alphonso Davies scored two minutes into the game to give Canada a 1-0 lead and hope of a massive upset to the thousands of fans who made the trip to Qatar.

Canada had 21 attempts on goal against Belgium and could not score, and then made men’s national soccer history by netting a goal on its first attempt against Croatia.

Davies got to the end of a cross from Tajon Buchanan at the far post ahead of Croatia defender Josip Juranovic and powered home a header past goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.

The goal was historic for Canada, ending a 362-minute goal drought at the World Cup. Canada did not score in its only previous appearance at the tournament, losing all three games in 1986.

Croatia, who were held to a scoreless tie by Morocco in its first game, were rattled by the early goal and Canada had a number of opportunities to take the lead, but were unable to take advantage.

Eventually, Croatia worked its way back into the game and began to find a rhythm.

Croatia thought they had tied the game in the 27th minute when Kramaric was put through and hit a shot past Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan, but the goal was called back offside.

Kramaric did get his goal nine minutes later when sent in by Ivan Perisic just inside the penalty area and slipped a shot past Borjan.

After giving up the tying goal, Canada seemed to struggle and found themselves hemmed in their own end defending wave after wave of Croatian attacks.

Canada relented just before half time, as Josip Juranovic made a run at the heart of the Canada defence and even though it appeared he was stopped at the top of penalty area, still managed to poke the ball to Marko Livaja. The Croatia striker had plenty of time to pick the corner on Borjan to put his team up 2-1.

Canada made two substitutions to start the second half, inserting Jonathan Osorio and Ismael Kone into midfield for Cyle Larin and Stephen Eustaquio, who appeared to sustain an injury, or aggravated one, in the first half.

The move temporarily injected life in the Canada attack and Osorio came within inches of tying the game buy his shot from the top of the penalty area flashed just wide. Moments later, Osorio started a move and found Buchanan at the top of the box, who slide the ball over to Jonathan David. His looping shot was tipped over the crossbar by Livakovic.

“We’ve had these moments before, we’ve been down in big games to Mexico, the United States,” Herdman said. “We had to make a couple of tactical shifts, we put in (Ismael) Kone, you could see that excitement in his eyes when he was told he was coming in, and I think the biggest thing for me was just the pride of them pushing. I don’t think any of these lads turned away from that opportunity to push for that result even when we were 3-1 down.”

Croatia took a two-goal lead in the 70th minute, when Kramaric collected a long cross-field pass from Perisic at the right side of the Canada penalty area. He cut inside and fired a shot that went through the legs of Canada captain Atiba Hutchinson and into the corner of the net past Borjan.

The goal took all the air out of Canada, who would have lived to fight another day with a point from a tie. However, going down two goals, considering they had only scored one in its history, a comeback proved too tall an order.

Substitute Lovro Majer added the fourth, deep into second-half injury time after Miller made a mess of a clearance, allowing the ball to get past him.

Mislav Orsic took it and ran with Majer beside him. Orsic slid the ball over to Majer, who hammered it into the open net.

dvandiest@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @DerekVanDiest