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Perisic in action against Wales' Will Vaulks on Saturday. Adam Davy

Inter star Perisic scores one and sets up another in Euro 2020 qualifier win against Wales

Having lost in Hungary last time out, Croatia got their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign back on track.

IVAN PERISIC SCORED one goal and made the other as Croatia overcame Wales 2-1 in Euro 2020 qualifying in Osijek on Saturday.

Zlatko Dalicโ€™s side had lost their last Group E game against Hungary in March, but got back on track thanks to James Lawrenceโ€™s first-half own goal and Perisicโ€™s 48th-minute strike following some shambolic Welsh defending.

Lawrence was unlucky to put through his own net, failing to sort his feet out when racing back towards goal, and the Anderlecht defender was one of three Wales players whose failure to clear allowed Perisic to increase the hostsโ€™ lead.

Substitute David Brooksโ€™ deflected effort 13 minutes from time gave Ryan Giggsโ€™ men hope of a comeback but they could not force an equaliser as the World Cup finalists held on for victory.

An eventful opening saw Perisic twice blaze over, either side of Harry Wilson volleying an even more presentable chance straight at Dominik Livakovic from Gareth Baleโ€™s quick-thinking long throw.

And Wales were made to pay for that miss in the 17th minute as Perisic got in behind down the left and drilled a low cross towards Andrej Kramaric that Lawrence deflected in.

Kramaric fired off-target as Croatia sought a second prior to half-time, although they were almost caught cold as Livakovic saved from Will Vaulks and then thwarted Ben Daviesโ€™ rebound.

Within three minutes of the restart, Croatia doubled their lead as Wales gave the ball away and failed three times to clear their lines, allowing Perisic to rifle home.

Bale shot straight at Livakovic when well placed but the Croatia goalkeeper was completely wrong-footed when Brooksโ€™ attempt flicked off Domagoj Vidaโ€™s head and in.

Brooksโ€™ weak effort in stoppage time proved the last chance for a dramatic leveller, though, as Wales were made to rue leaving themselves a mountain to climb in searing 30-degree heat.

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 19th 2016, 7:14 PM

    Lack of leadership is probably where Tipp have fallen down most since 2010. The likes of Mahony, Curran, Kelly, Cummins, Fanning were the type of players to take responsibility when the game was on the line. Conor Oโ€™Mahonyโ€™s intro last year v. Galway instantly galavanised Tipp and led to a fight back. Even if we eventually lost his influence on the game was noticeable. Of the 8 list above all are fantastic players, but for key men in the team most of them (Seamie and Barry aside) have tendency to be inconsistent, passive or go missing when the game is in the balance. Harsh to criticise your best players, but also hard to watch a team capable of winning All Irelandโ€™s squander the opportunity year after year particularly when someone like EOSโ€™s playing style made for the most exciting spectacles of total hurling when it came off. There are extenuating circumstances of course Brendan and Paudi have played out of position, Cahill and Bonnar have been disrupted by injuries and Noelโ€™s troubles and comeback have been well documented but as their careers wear on you want to see them achieve the feats their talents are capable of.

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    Mute Seamus McSpud
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    May 19th 2016, 8:08 PM

    How did Galway beat these guys last year.
    They really are as unpredictable as โ€ฆ well Galway!!

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    Mute John Carroll
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    May 19th 2016, 6:30 PM

    This should be a handy one for Tipp at the wk end.

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    May 19th 2016, 6:42 PM

    Jeez I dunno, Cork are very quiet and this is set up nicely for them, they love Thurles and they turned it on against Kilkenny in the league, all depends on which cork turns up but they rarely fail to fire against Tipp, and they owe them one since 2014

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    Mute Tomรกs Tiernan
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    May 19th 2016, 7:09 PM

    Couldnโ€™t agree more with you An_Neal_Bocht. We went down in 2010 as red hot favourites and got ambushed. Cork are too quite and as you say they love Thurles. Still reckon we will win but not by a cricket score.

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    Mute Seamus McSpud
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    May 19th 2016, 8:10 PM

    Cork are terrible.
    They might ambush someone later in the year but itโ€™s +10pts in favour of Tipp on Sunday

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    Mute Roger Middleton
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    May 19th 2016, 9:11 PM

    Not ten I think it will be close enough the two teams need to proform

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    Mute James Quinn
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    May 19th 2016, 9:37 PM

    I wouldnโ€™t be surprised to see Cork win this one. Pushed kilkenny all the way in a thriller and also went to Galways back yard and beat em in the relegation final. The pessure is all on Tipp, will they be able to handle it? They canโ€™t be too confident going by whats happened in the last few years and all the close games theyโ€™ve lost.

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    Mute Colin Ryan
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    May 20th 2016, 4:42 PM

    Some man for the lists Jackie.

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