Croatia 2-0 Wales

Wales' World Cup qualifying hopes
took another blow after a defensive
mix-up set Croatia on their way to
victory.
Croatia led when Mario Mandzukic
charged down Lewis Price's kick, after
Ashley Williams' underhit back-pass put
the Wales goalkeeper under pressure.
Eduardo Da Silva doubled the lead
from a yard after a rebound fell kindly.
Gareth Bale almost claimed a late
consolation for the visitors, only to see
Stipe Pletikosa save well, as Wales
slipped to second bottom in Group A.
Wales had arrived in Osijek with their
confidence buoyed by Friday's 2-1 win
over Scotland in Cardiff.
Two goals from Bale, magnificent that
night, had seen Wales come from
behind and earn their first World Cup
qualifying points after defeats to
Belgium and Serbia.
That success also ended a six-game
losing run and handed Chris Coleman
his first success since taking over as
Wales manager.
But despite the upturn in fortunes, the
challenge facing Wales at the Gradski
Stadium was a daunting one against a
Croatia side unbeaten in this campaign
- fresh from a 2-1 win in Macedonia.
Added to that was Croatia's incredible
home record, having lost just once - to
England in September 2008 - in 46
qualifying matches.
Wales arrived in Osijek without
suspended Arsenal midfielder Aaron
Ramsey who was replaced by
Leicester's Andy King.
Darijo Srna was the first to threaten the
Wales goal, curling a free-kick past the
defensive wall that had goalkeeper Price
plunging low to his left to turn the ball
around the post.
After Bale's match-winning display
against the Scots, the winger was
carefully watched by the Croat
rearguard.
Instead, it was his former Tottenham
team-mate among the Croatia line-up,
Real Madrid's Luka Modric, who was
starting to run the game.
The midfielder had a penalty claim
turned away by referee Alexandru Dan
Tudor after Darcy Blake bumped him
on the shoulder, and he then sent a
strong left-foot shot into Price's midriff.
A Mandzukic volley was also beaten
away by the Wales keeper, before a
horrendous defensive blunder gifted
Croatia the lead.
Captain Williams hit a weak backpass -
albeit not helped by a puddle of mud -
that put Price under pressure, which
the Crystal Palace keeper compounded
by hitting his clearance into the
pressurising Mandzukic.
The rebound fell nicely for the Bayern
Munich attacker, who gleefully side-
footed the ball into the net.
If that was the bad side of the third-
choice Wales goalkeeper, playing
because of injuries to Wayne Hennessey
and Boaz Myhill, his good reactions
soon after to deny Eduardo at point-
blank range kept his side in the game.
Wales' goal threat in a one-sided first
half was sporadic, with the best chance
a Bale free-kick fisted away by Pletikosa
after Dejan Lovren had shunted clumsily
into the Spurs man.
A Modric back-heel opened up the
Wales defence soon after half-time and
only Williams' alertness diverted Ivan
Perisic's shot over the bar.
Price again saved Wales when
Mandzukic seized on a long ball over
the top, but from the resulting corner
the home side doubled their lead.
Perisic's free header was well parried by
Price, but the prone keeper could do
nothing as Eduardo pounced on the
rebound to stab home.
The Wales boss sent on Simon Church
for the ineffectual Steve Morison and
soon added a second striker in Sam
Vokes, sacrificing King and his five-man
midfield.
But the positive move merely gave
Croatia more space to work in and
Eduardo was unlucky not to grab his
second goal with a header that crashed
off the crossbar.
Bale, in brilliant solo mode once again,
nearly set up a grandstand finish as he
ran half the length of the field and
nearly forced his shot under Pletikosa,
before seeing the Rostov keeper save a
well-struck free-kick.
Wales now have until next March to lick
their wounds before what promises to
be a spicy return match against
Scotland.