Morata scores as Spain beats Croatia 5-3 in extra time
Copenhagen, Jun 29 (AP): Spain first gifted Croatia a bizarre own-goal, then threw away a late 3-1 lead. Alvaro Morata made sure it didn’t matter in the end.
Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal scored in extra time Monday to give Spain a 5-3 win over Croatia and a place in the European Championship quarterfinals after a wildly entertaining see-saw match at Parken Stadium.
“I’ve lived through really intense matches as a player and manager but this one genuinely had a bit of everything, Spain coach Luis Enrique said.
It was the second-highest scoring game in the history of the European Championship, trailing only Yugoslavia’s 5-4 win over France in the opening game of the inaugural tournament in 1960. And it had nearly as many momentum shifts as goals.
After Croatia midfielder Mario Pasalic equalized in injury time to cap an improbable late comeback, the much-maligned Morata scored what proved the winner in the 100th minute.
The Spain striker controlled a cross with one deft touch and then sent a rising shot past goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic for his second goal of the tournament.
Oyarzabal doubled the lead three minutes later, receiving a pass in the middle of the area and holding off a defender before scoring.
Morata had received a torrent of online abuse including death threats after a string of misses during the group stage. But his fierce finish from a tight angle proved decisive on Monday.
I don’t think there’s any coach in the world who wouldn’t admire a player like Morata, Luis Enrique said.
He dominates in the air, he scores goals, he is physically powerful. He is a striker we should really value.