A late goal from substitute striker Nikica Jelavic((born August 27, 1985) is a Croatian footballer playing for the Austrian club SK Rapid Vienna) handed Croatia victory in their friendly international against Qatar in Rijeka on Thursday.
Croatia went ahead after only seven minutes as the hosts scored two goals in the first quarter of the game. Defender Vedran Corluka (born 5 February 1986) is a bosnian-born Croatian football defender currently playing in the English Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur)scored the opener when he headed home a cross from the left flank and Qatar goalkeeper Qassem Burhan was beaten again four minutes later when striker Ivan Klasnic netted.
Qatar pulled a goal back in the last minute of the first half through Majdi Siddiq, who fired a powerful shot from the edge of the area which took a deflection off a defender. Qatar levelled the scores nine minutes after the hour mark after a quick counter attack by Hassan Al Haydous before he sent a cross from the right for Sebastian Soria who diverted the ball into the net from close range.
However, Jelavic scored the winning goal for Croatia in the first minute of stoppage time after he received a pass inside the area before scoring past Burhan. Croatia will now head to Kazakhstan for their final 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifier next Wednesday when victory will secure them a play-off place.
Qatar will play their second friendly of a European tour against Macedonia on Sunday in Skopje before their last game against Congo DR on 14 October in Paris.
