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Croatia's revival stuns Italians

Croatia's Ivica Olic (18) shoots past Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon

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

Italy thought they had grabbed an injury-time equaliser but the effort was disallowed 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.

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"This victory goes out to the entire Croatian nation," Olic said afterwards. "With the two goals in the second half we deserved the victory."

"These things mustn't happen -- come on!" said a fuming Vieri, who got a yellow card for complaining when his first goal was disallowed. "In a game as important as this, for which one prepares all week -- longer, we've been here training a month -- a game shouldn't go like this.

"Now we must absolutely win against Mexico to go ahead in the World Cup." Italy, Mexico and Croatia, third in the 1998 World Cup, all have three points ahead of Sunday's game between Mexico and Ecuador.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni insisted that his team had played well, and said it should not have lost.

Croatia's Ivica Olic reacts after scoring during the second half against Italy

"The three goals could have been four," he said. "Maybe both the disallowed goals should have been allowed.

"I think a tie would have been more appropriate."

Croatia's coach Mirka Jozic, meanwhile, exulted. "Only a great team can come back from 1-0 against Italy," he said. "I consider my players heroes.

"The first thing I said in the changing room was congratulations. I told them how much I admire them. They won this match dying for each other on the pitch," he said.

Poor showing

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 beginning 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.