Croatia players celebrate their first goal an own goal scored by Russia's Fedor Kudryashov REUTERS/Antonio Bronic
SPLIT, Croatia: Croatia clinched an automatic berth in the 2022 World Cup finals after a late Fedor Kudryashov own goal gave them a 1-0 home win over Russia in their crunch Group D qualifier on Sunday.
Croatia, the 2018 World Cup runners-up, jumped above Russia to top the standings on 23 points from 10 games, one more than the second-placed Russians who will head into the March playoffs.
Croatia dominated a match played in driving rain but a string of good saves by visiting goakeeper Matvei Safonov and a waterlogged pitch kept them at bay before Kudryashov's clumsy 80th-minute touch delighted the home fans. (Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Ed Osmond)
