Match ends, Croatia 1, Italy 1.
CroatiaCroatia1ItalyItaly1
Croatia remain two points clear of second-placed Italy after the Group H rivals shared the points in their Euro 2016 qualifier in Split.
Mario Mandzukic fired the home side ahead but conceded the penalty which Antonio Candreva coolly chipped in.
However, the match was overshadowed by a swastika spotted on the pitch.
The game was played behind closed doors following crowd trouble - including racist chanting - in Croatia's home qualifier against Norway in March.
Atletico Madrid striker Mandzukic, who also missed a penalty, handled inside the area to allow Candreva to level, before Croatia's Darijo Srna was sent off for a second booking.
The captain's dismissal came in the last minute for a foul on Claudio Marchisio.
Italy coach Antonio Conte said: "It was unfortunate to play without any fans present but both teams were totally focused as this was a very important match at this stage of qualifying."
Croatian counterpart Kovac said: "Both teams deserve congratulations for producing a quality performance in difficult conditions.
"The match was played in searing heat and at the end of a long season, with no fans present to cheer either side."
Norway remain third in the group, two points behind Italy, after being held 0-0 by Azerbaijan.
Bulgaria are now within two points of the Scandinavians after beating bottom side Malta 1-0 through Ivelin Popov's volley. Ilian Micanski had earlier missed a penalty for the Balkans.
Line-ups
Croatia
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23Subasic
- 11SrnaBooked at 90mins
- 21Vida
- 13Schildenfeld
- 3PranjicSubstituted forVrsaljkoat 73'minutes
- 14Brozovic
- 7Rakitic
- 18OlicBooked at 44minsSubstituted forRebicat 45'minutesBooked at 82mins
- 20KovacicBooked at 87minsSubstituted forLeovacat 90+2'minutes
- 4Perisic
- 17MandzukicBooked at 35mins
Substitutes
- 1Vargic
- 2Vrsaljko
- 5Jajalo
- 6Leskovic
- 8Pjaca
- 9Kramaric
- 10Sharbini
- 12L Kalinic
- 15Rebic
- 16N Kalinic
- 19Badelj
- 22Leovac
Italy
Formation 4-3-3
- 1BuffonBooked at 11minsSubstituted forSiriguat 45'minutes
- 15De SilvestriSubstituted forDe Sciglioat 27'minutes
- 19Bonucci
- 5Astori
- 4Darmian
- 16ParoloBooked at 52mins
- 21Pirlo
- 8MarchisioBooked at 71mins
- 6Candreva
- 20Pellè
- 11El ShaarawySubstituted forRanocchiaat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 2De Sciglio
- 3Moretti
- 7Bertolacci
- 9Immobile
- 10Vázquez
- 12Sirigu
- 13Ranocchia
- 14Padelli
- 17Sansone
- 18Soriano
- 22Gabbiadini
- 23Pasqual
- Referee:
- Martin Atkinson
Match Stats
Home TeamCroatiaAway TeamItaly
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home3
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Croatia 1, Italy 1.
Substitution
Substitution, Croatia. Marin Leovac replaces Mateo Kovacic.
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Mattia De Sciglio (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ivan Perisic (Croatia).
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Darijo Srna (Croatia) for a bad foul.
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Claudio Marchisio (Italy) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Darijo Srna (Croatia).
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Claudio Marchisio (Italy) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Darijo Srna (Croatia).
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Corner, Italy. Conceded by Gordon Schildenfeld.
Booking
Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) is shown the yellow card.
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Andrea Ranocchia (Italy) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Ante Rebic (Croatia).
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Foul by Davide Astori (Italy).
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Mario Mandzukic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Italy. Conceded by Sime Vrsaljko.
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Foul by Graziano Pellè (Italy).
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Darijo Srna (Croatia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Claudio Marchisio (Italy).
