Ireland's Sean St. Ledger, center, celebrates with Robbie Keane, left, and Kevin Doyle after scoring during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group C match between the Republic of Ireland and Croatia in Poznan, Poland, Sunday, June 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
June 10, 2012 - 4:44 PM
POZNAN, Poland - Mario Mandzukic scored two goals Sunday to help Croatia beat Ireland 3-1 in Group C of the European Championship.
Croatia took the lead in the third minute when Mandzukic looped a header past a diving Shay Given, but Ireland equalized in the 19th when Sean St. Ledger headed in Aiden McGeady's free kick from the left.
Nikica Jelavic put Croatia back in front in the 43rd minute after Ireland failed to clear a corner, scoring his first goal in a competitive match since he made his international debut in 2009.
Mandzukic added the third in the 48th after his header from Ivan Perisic's cross bounced off the post and then into the net off Given's head.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012