Croatia 1-0 Russia
2022 World Cup qualifiers, Group H
Sunday 14 November, Stadion Poljud, Split

Goal: Croatia - Kudryashov (OG) 81'

Torrential rainfall added treacherous conditions to a partisan atmosphere in Split, but a tremendous defensive display was not quite enough to send Valery Karpin's side directly to Qatar. After weathering a Croatian storm of pressure, they finally cracked in the cruellest of circumstances as a slightly limping Fedor Kudryashov stumbled into a harmless cross to deflect the ball inside Matvey Safonov's near post eight minutes from time. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly given the pressure on the hosts to win, Croatia dominated final-third possession from the word go. 

Safonov wasn't truly tested to start with though, with his serious save after nine minutes more straight forward than challenging after Andre Kramaric's free header eight yards out. 

Arguably his first major test coming midway through the opening period. Marcelo Brozovic sent a sighter just wide before forcing a full-length diving save from the Krasnodar keeper. 

Vyacheslav Karavaev did just enough to deny Ivan Perisic clearer chances, once from a header and another time pressuring a volleyed attempt to be hit wide. 

Former Spartak loanee Mario Pasalic forced Safonov into a scrambled reaction save from a powerful close-range header just two minutes after the break, before Karavaev's trailing heel did just enough to deflect a Perisic shot over. 

With an hour gone, Russia still had not registered a single shot on goal to Croatia's 15, and had less than a third of the hosts' completed passes, and yet still stood firm. 

With 20 minutes to a heart-stopping rare counter attack involving Zelimkhan Bakaev and Karavaev suddenly opened up a three-on-three; Anton Zabolotny was only denied a clear tap-in by a full-length dive from Croatia keeper Ivo Grbic. 

When it looked like the stout defiance would reward Russia with a ticket to Doha, Kudryashov's lapse of concentration undid all the hard work to that point. It was the first goal in nearly six hours of Euro and World Cup qualifiers between the two nations, and a crucial one at that. 

Croatia leapfrog Russia to top the group on 23 points and qualify directly for the World Cup, while Russia have to settle for the playoffs after finishing one point back.