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Top tournament favourites Brazil have been knocked out of the World Cup after losing to Croatia who won on penalties 4-2 in their quarter-final clash on Friday.
Superstar Neymar equalled Pele’s Brazil scoring record with 77 FIFA-registered goals to give his side the lead in the first half of extra time at Education City Stadiu but Bruno Petković broke Brazilian hearts with a last-gasp equalizer to send the game to penalties as the game ended 1-1.
Brazil had outclassed South Korea in their round of 16 tie with a 4-1 win – and they were hotly tipped to add another World Cup title to their five so far.
At the World Cup in 2018, Zlatko Dalić’s team won three knockout rounds after forcing the game into extra-time and it beat Japan on penalties in the previous round in Qatar.
But it looked as though Neymar had upset that particular script when he produced arguably the moment of the tournament so far.
The star attacker dropped deep to pick up the ball before splitting the Croatian defense with two bounce passes with teammates before firing his effort into the roof of the net.
The goal sparked frenzied celebration inside the Education City Stadium with Neymar close to tears after seemingly inspiring his side into the semifinals.
Having won their last 16 game (against Japan) and their quarterfinal against Brazil on penalty kicks, Croatia will face the winner of the ongoing Netherlands Vs Argentina match in the semifinal.
