Turkey | 0 - 3 | Croatia |
|---|---|---|
 | Ivica Olic (2') | |
| | Mario Mandzukic (32') | |
| | Vedran Corluka (51') | |
| Date | : | Fri, Nov 11, 2011 | Time | : | 20:05 CET |
| Play on | : | European Championship Qualifying |
Ivica Olic gave Slaven Bilic's side the ideal start when they turned home Vedran Corluka's cross from close range with minutes on the clock.
Mario Mandzukic doubled the lead half an hour later when they nodded past the flailing Volkan Demirel at the far post, before Corluka done the scoring in the 51st minute with only his second international aim.
After winning a free-kick and spreading play to the left, Corluka broke away and found space on the flank.
Croatia's dominance started early and they were ahead from the first significant assault of the match.
Turkey tried to settle but there was no let-up from Croatia, with Ivan Rakitic missing from long range as they tried to discover a second in the 13th minute.
His low cross along the six-yard line found Demirel indecisive and the ball was merely diverted on its way through to the waiting Olic, who tapped in to an empty net.
Demirel was helpless minutes later as Mandzukic made it 2-0.
Play settled in to a scrappier style until Olic popped up again on the half hour, drawing a save from Demirel with a 12-yard strike.
They lofted a cross to the far post where Mandzukic was perfectly placed to head the ball back across aim and over the line.
Luka Modric first saw his low drive charged down but collected the loose ball and fed it to Olic on the right.
Olic's first touch for one time let him down, giving Demirel time to charge down the shot.
Olic had an excellent opportunity for his second of the night on the stroke of half-time after Mandzukic drew defenders with a jinking run only to lay the ball off to his team-mate.
If the hosts regrouped at half-time it counted for little as Croatia's third came six minutes after the restart.
Domagoj Vida won a free-kick on the right and Srna was on hand to deliver a fine cross in to the danger area.
Corluka made light work of shaking off the attention of Burak Yilmaz and powered a free header in to the centre of aim.
An immediate response was now needed and Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa gave them when they fumbled Arda Turan's cross only for Josip Simunic to clear the danger.
Sabri Sarioglu made a nuisance of himself sometimes, and earned a booking for an animated reaction to a challenge in the closing stages, but Pletikosa had a calm time in the final minutes.
Modric looked the most likely to generate a fourth aim as they made lots of space in the centre of the park, but Turkey had nobody able to finding a killer ball.
Turkey vs Croatia Last 5 match
| Turkey | Croatia |
| Oct 11, 2011, Turkey 1 - 0 Azerbaijan | Oct 11, 2011, Croatia 2 - 0 Latvia |
| Oct 7, 2011, Turkey 1 - 3 Germany | Oct 7, 2011, Greece 2 - 0 Croatia |
| Sep 6, 2011, Austria 0 - 0 Turkey | Sep 6, 2011, Croatia 3 - 1 Israel |
| Sep 2, 2011, Turkey 2 - 1 Kazakhstan | Sep 2, 2011, Malta 1 - 3 Croatia |
| Aug 10, 2011, Turkey 3 - 0 Estonia | Aug 10, 2011, Ireland 0 - 0 Croatia |
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