Peyia payback for Croatia

Croatia avenged a shock 2-0 defeat in their opening UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group 7 game, with Domagoj Vida and Ivan Rakitić finding the target against Cyprus in Peyia.

Brilliant lob
Croatia started the game brighter and should have taken the lead on four minutes but Ivan Perišić turned a clever cross from the left from Rakitić into the side netting. Nikola Kalinić then failed to connect with another perceptive ball, this time from Mato Jajalo, and the hosts punished them with their first attack of the game. Speedy AC Omonia striker Dimitris Christofi latched onto a long Pantelis Pitsillos ball and beat on-rushing goalkeeper Ivan Kevala with a brilliant lob. The hosts missed several more chances, with Christofi twice shooting straight at Kevala before defender Vida punished Cyprus with a bullet header from Rakitić's free-kick on the hour. Provider turned scorer five minutes later, tapping Kalinić's low cross into an empty net. The result leaves Croatia second in the section, a point adrift of leaders Slovakia.