Croatia edge Russia to reach World Cup finals

Fedor Kudryashov's late own goal gave Croatia a 1-0 win at home to Russia on Sunday as the 2018 World Cup runners-up leapfrogged their rivals to seal an automatic berth for Qatar 2022.

Russia started the day at the top of qualifying Group H but ended second and will have to make do with the European play-offs in March, with the draw taking place on November 26.

Croatia finished top by just a point after 10 games, with the drama all coming down to the finale between the leading two in Split.

Russia held out in the first half without too many major scares despite Croatia dominating. Goalkeeper Matvei Safonov saved from Ivan Perisic, Marcelo Brozovic and Andrej Kramaric while Brozovic also curled a effort just wide. Heavy rain had made the pitch sodden by the second half and it was getting close to being unplayable.

Croatia took the aerial route and Mario Pasalic's close-range header shortly after the break was straight at the keeper again. The patient hosts kept pushing, despite the ball sometimes becoming stuck in the puddles, but the chances began to be less clear-cut. Russia threatened little and were happy to sit back.

The visitors were looking relatively comfortable until the 81st minute when Borna Sosa's cross skipped off the wet turf and hit Kudryashov's legs and squirmed into the corner of the net. The unlucky left back fell to his knees in anguish and his side then had to go looking for a goal, but Croatia stayed in control.