This game exploded into life after just three minutes thanks to a flowing Colombia move down the left. Johan Mojica’s delivery was flicked on by Luis Suarez into the path of Jhon Arias. He finished well past Dominik Livakovic despite the best efforts of Ivan Perisic.
This delighted the bulk of the supporters inside Camping World Stadium but Zlatko Dalic’s men were back on level terms just three minutes later. Luka Vuskovic was allowed too much room to stride forward and his shot from range nestled in the net via the inside of the post.
After this fast start, the game settled down slightly before, on the half-hour mark, Luis Diaz put the ball on a plate for Suarez but, in stark contrast to his clinical club form, the Sporting CP striker missed the ball completely in front of an open net from six yards. Having been let off the hook, Croatia went on the attack and took the lead just before the break.
Playing in his home stadium, Orlando City’s Marco Pasalic forced Camilo Vargas to tip his shot around the post before taking the resulting corner that was misjudged by the Colombian goalkeeper, allowing Igor Matanovic to nod home at the back post.
It took until the hour mark for the first real chance in the second half but, when it came, it was a ferocious strike from half-time sub Petar Musa that came rocketing back off the crossbar.
The FC Dallas striker was cursing his luck again just five minutes later when he was denied another stunning goal by the frame of the goal as he struck the post with a sweetly-struck volley.
At the other end, Jhon Cordoba had a couple of chances of his own as he swiped wide from a narrow angle before he had a header from a corner held by Livakovic. Ultimately, though, it was Croatia who held on for a morale-boosting win as these two sides amp up their preparations for this summer’s World Cup which is now less than three months away.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Marco Pasalic (Croatia)
