Croatia U21 draws with Ukraine 1-1

Zagreb, May 29 (IANS) The Croatian U21 team drew 1-1 with Ukraine Wednesday at the European Championships, though it has seven players from the provisional list of the national team.

Seven Croatian players in the starting lineup are on the list of candidates for the upcoming World Cup in Brazil, but they managed only a goalless first half before Fiorentina's forward Ante Rebic scored from a close range after 56 minutes, Xinhua reported.

Just six minutes later, the Ukrainians got the equalizer when Ruslan Malinovskiy got the ball few yards from Croatia's goal and put it beside Oliver Zelenika.

With 16 points from seven matches, Croatia tops Group 5 standings for an almost certain berth in the last-eight tournament next year in Czech Republic.

Ukraine has seven points from four matches with a slim chance of advancing.