Croatia beat Brazil on penalties to reach World Cup semifinals

DOHA - Croatia advanced to the 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinals by defeating Brazil 4-2 in a dramatic penalty shootout on Friday.

Neymar appeared to put the South American team on course for victory with a superb 106th-minute strike after a driving run in the quarterfinal at Education City stadium.

But Croatia substitute Bruno Petkovic equalized with a left-footed shot that deflected in off Marquinhos with four minutes of extra time remaining.

Mislav Orsic, Luka Modric, Lovro Majer and Nikola Vlasic converted each of Croatia's spot kicks in the shootout. Rodrygo's feeble first attempt was saved by Dominik Livakovic before Pedro and Casemiro held their nerve only for Marquinhos to send his team's fourth penalty crashing against the left post.

Croatia, runners-up at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, will meet either Argentina or the Netherlands at Lusail stadium on Tuesday (Dec. 13) with a berth in the final at stake.

Neymar's strike saw him equal Pele as Brazil's all-time leading scorer but it will be of little consolation for the 30-year-old, who admitted last month that this could be his last chance to win football's ultimate prize.