Post by Tom on Sept 6, 2003 20:39:47 GMT
Andorra 0-3 Croatia: Kovac opener
Reuters
ANDORRA LA VELLA, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Croatia cruised to a confident 3-0 win over Andorra in their Euro 2004 qualifier at the Estadio Comunal on Saturday to keep in close touch with Group Eight leaders Bulgaria.
The Balkan side have taken 13 points from six matches and remain one point behind Bulgaria, 2-0 winners at home to Estonia, with two games left. Croatia are three points ahead of third-placed Belgium who they play away on Wednesday.
Croatia got off to a flying start against the team from the tiny Pyrenean principality when Hertha Berlin midfielder Nico Kovac headed in unmarked from a corner after just four minutes.
The visitors cashed in on another defensive error 12 minutes later when Kovac's club colleague at Hertha Josip Simunic snapped in from close range after Andorra failed to clear a loose ball from their own area.
Croatia dominated completely but lost some momentum when Kovac was forced off through injury late in the first half.
They continued to pin their opponents back in their own area after the break and Maccabi Haifa midfielder Giovanni Rosso scored a third when he headed home from six metres following a corner midway through the half.
If it had not been for some fine saves from Koldo in the Andorran goal Croatia would have scored several more, but they will have been content with an easy win ahead of next week's all-important qualifier in Belgium.
Andorra, who have yet to earn a point from any of their three qualification campaigns to date, play Bulgaria in their final game on Wednesday.
Reuters
ANDORRA LA VELLA, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Croatia cruised to a confident 3-0 win over Andorra in their Euro 2004 qualifier at the Estadio Comunal on Saturday to keep in close touch with Group Eight leaders Bulgaria.
The Balkan side have taken 13 points from six matches and remain one point behind Bulgaria, 2-0 winners at home to Estonia, with two games left. Croatia are three points ahead of third-placed Belgium who they play away on Wednesday.
Croatia got off to a flying start against the team from the tiny Pyrenean principality when Hertha Berlin midfielder Nico Kovac headed in unmarked from a corner after just four minutes.
The visitors cashed in on another defensive error 12 minutes later when Kovac's club colleague at Hertha Josip Simunic snapped in from close range after Andorra failed to clear a loose ball from their own area.
Croatia dominated completely but lost some momentum when Kovac was forced off through injury late in the first half.
They continued to pin their opponents back in their own area after the break and Maccabi Haifa midfielder Giovanni Rosso scored a third when he headed home from six metres following a corner midway through the half.
If it had not been for some fine saves from Koldo in the Andorran goal Croatia would have scored several more, but they will have been content with an easy win ahead of next week's all-important qualifier in Belgium.
Andorra, who have yet to earn a point from any of their three qualification campaigns to date, play Bulgaria in their final game on Wednesday.