- Croatia held Italy to a 1-1 draw in Milan back in November
- Mario Mandzukic fired the home side into an early lead in the 10th minute
- Antonio Candreva converted a 36th minute penalty to level the scores
By
Published:
20:41 GMT, 12 June 2015
|
Updated:
00:35 GMT, 13 June 2015
Croatia and Italy stayed on course to reach Euro 2016 after a pulsating 1-1 draw in their Group H qualifier played behind-closed-doors at the Poljud stadium on Friday.
Fans were not allowed into the ground after the Croatians were handed a one-match crowd ban for repeated offences by their supporters earlier in the campaign.
Croatia fans shouted racist chants during a 5-1 home win over Norway in March which followed incidents in last November’s 1-1 draw with Italy in Milan, when they twice halted play by hurling flares on to the pitch.

Buffon does brilliantly to get down to save Mandzukic’s penalty kick with just six minutes of the game played

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is unable to prevent Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic firing in the opener

The Atletico Madrid forward races away to celebrate following his 11th minute strike at the Poljud Stadium

Mandzukic is mobbed by his Croatia team-mates after his early intervention against the Azzurri

Antonio Candreva converted a 35th minute penalty to get the visitors back on level terms

REMAINING FIXTURES
Italy v Malta
Italy v Bulgaria
Italy v Norway
Azerbaijan v Croatia
Norway v Croatia
Croatia v Bulgaria
Malta v Croatia
The result of Friday’s entertaining clash left Croatia top of Group H with 14 points from six games, two more than Italy who stretched their unbeaten run in European Championship and World Cup qualifying to 46 games.
Towering striker Mario Mandzukic gave Croatia a controversial 11th-minute lead before Antonio Candreva equalised with a cheeky penalty in the 36th minute.
Mandzukic, who missed an early spot-kick, scored seconds after Italy’s Stephan El Shaarawy had an effort disallowed for offside.
With the replay suggesting the forward had scored a legitimate goal and the visitors arguing with the linesman, Croatia launched a swift break and Mandzukic stroked in a perfect low cross by Ivan Rakitic.
Mandzukic then gave away a penalty when he handled a teasing Andrea Pirlo cross and Candreva clipped the ball down the middle as he wrong-footed Croatia keeper Danijel Subasic.
Both sides missed plenty of chances in either half in a high-tempo encounter as instructions from both benches echoed in an eerily-empty stadium.
Croatia had captain Darijo Srna sent off in stoppage time after a second booking for a foul.

Italy players remonstrate with referee Martin Atkinson during the first half

Italy forward Graziano Pelle is tracked by Croatia’s Domagoj Vida as both sides chase a winner in the second half

Italy midfielder Marco Parolo (left) heads the ball clear under pressure from Croatia defender Darijo Srna

A camera man is seen in the empty stands ahead of the Euro 2016 Group H clash

The Italy side line up for their national anthem in an empty Poljud Stadium in Split
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