Round of 16 Recaps: Russia Pull off Biggest WC Upset, Croatia Get Through in PKs

Russia pulled off what the FIFA magazine stated as "the biggest upset in World Cup history." In the 12th minute, the hosts found themselves down after an own goal. A Marco Asensio free kick was aimed for Sergio Ramos, but Russian defender Sergei Ignashevich pulled him down, and the ball went off him and in the net. In the 36th, Russian forward Aleksandr Golovin curls his shot just wide, but Russia would level 5 minutes later from a converted Artem Dzyuba PK. A Russian corner was met with Dzyuba's head, and the ball hit Gerald Pique's right hand. The ref pointed to the spot, and the game was tied. In the 45th, Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev stopped Diego Costa's header, jump-starting Akinfeev's career-changing day. Jordi Alba had a deflected shot from an Asensio cross saved by Akinfeev in the second half, before Andres Iniesta beat Akinfeev, but his shot hit the post and out. The game went to extra time, where Akinfeev staued alert, saving Asension's shot in the first 15 minutes of overtime, and then going down low to stop Rodrigo's close range blast before Dani Carvajal's rebounded was blocked. Spain had a penalty shout that ended up to be nothing as Pique fell in the box, and Rodrigo forced a diving save by Akinfeev in the 121st. In penalties, Spain went first, and it was 2-2 in penalties. Then, Akinfeev stopped Koke's shot that went left, before Golovin and Denis Cheryshev made it 4-3. Iago Aspas's shot was stopped by Akinfeev's foot in the 5th round to clinch Russia's spot in the quarterfinals.

The later game featured two European dark horses in Croatia and Denmark. Denmark went up in just 60 seconds when along throw in fell to Mathias Jorgenson, whose close range shot deflected off keeper Danijel Subasic, off the near left post, and in. Croatia equalized 3 minutes later when a awful caused by the entire Danish defense fell to Mario Mandzukic, who did not waste the close range opportunity. In the 27th, Subasic stopped Martin Braithwaite' shot, and Danish keeper Casper Schmeichel returned the favor 2 minutes with a save of his own, preventing Ivan Ratikic's shot from going in. The 72nd minute brought another shot from Denmark shot, this one from Nicolai Jorgensen that was saved. And Ante Rebic forced Schmeichel into a save 6 minutes later, when his strike outside the box reached Denmark's keeper. The game went to extra time, and when it seemed the game would reach penalties, Croatia got a PK in the 116th, a sure-to-be winner should the PK be converted. Ante Rebic got fouled by Zanka in the box after Rebic went past the keeper, but Schmeichel bailed out his teammate by stopping Luka Modric's weak PK. Modric had another shot in the 119th, but the result was insane. In penalties, Christian Eriksen and Denmark went first, and Eriksen's shot was stopped by Subasic, hitting the post as well. Milan Badelj missed him as Schmeichel played her again for Denmark keeping it 0-0 after round 1. The next two rounds had all PKs converted, before the following one had both Subasic and Schmeichel making impressive saves. In the 5th round, Jorgensen had his parried away  by Subasic, and Ivan Rakitic converted the final kick to send Croatia through in this penalty-kick filled match. The two winners will meet this Saturday.

 

Akinfeev with his game-clinching save against Spain (over on the left), and Subasic with his first PK save, against Eriksen (bottom).