Soccer: Croatia shock Italy 2-1

11:50pm

IBARAKI, Japan - Two late goals in four minutes have given Croatia a surprise 2-1 win over Italy in World Cup group G – the Italians' first defeat in normal time in the finals since 1994.

Italy thought they had grabbed an injury time equaliser on Saturday but the effort was ruled out by a linesman, apparently for a foul by Filippo Inzaghi.

New cup favourites Italy had led through a Christian Vieri header in the 55th minute and looked to be heading for their second straight win in the finals before a stirring, late Croat revival.

Substitute Ivica Olic pulled the Croats level in the 73rd minute before Milan Rapaic stunned the Italians four minutes later, throwing group G wide open.

Italy, Mexico and Croatia, third in the 1998 World Cup, all have three points ahead of Sunday's game between Mexico and Ecuador.

The last time Italy lost in normal time in the finals was their first game of the 1994 World Cup when they lost 1-0 to Ireland. They still went on to reach the final where they lost on penalties to Brazil.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni was forced to reorganise when central defender Alessandro Nesta suffered what appeared to be a foot injury in the 24th minute and was replaced by Marco Materazzi.

The Croats took advantage of the change to gain the initiative with Zvonimir Soldo going close with a low drive.

Just two minutes after coming on Materazzi was then forced to clear off the line after Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon could only get one hand on a shot from Davor Vugrinec who had linked up well with Milan Rapaic.

Vugrinec and Rapaic, both drafted in after Croatia's poor showing in their 1-0 opening game defeat to Mexico were begining to cause problems for the Italians and Rapaic forced another save out of Buffon just before the break.

But the Italians reasserted themselves after the break with Vieri claiming his eighth goal in seven matches in the finals outjumping Josip Simunic to head home at the back post.

But this time the Italians failed to defend their lead.

Substitute Olic brought things level when he slid in a cross from Robert Jarni.

Then Rapaic beat Materazzi and Paolo Maldini and fired in a shot which was headed out by Christian Panucci -- the ball was played back into Rapaic whose hooked shot took a slight deflection and beat a stranded Buffon.

Three minutes from time Francesco Totti rapped the inside of the post from a 25-metre free kick but the ball ran across the Croatian goal before being cleared.

- REUTERS

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