A heavily-rotated Croatia side ended Northern Ireland's run of 11 internationals at home without defeat by earning a comfortable 3-0 victory in a friendly at Windsor Park on Tuesday.
Ante Cacic made eight changes to his starting line-up from the 2-0 win over Iceland in World Cup qualifying on Saturday - Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic among those left out - as Croatia became the first side to beat Northern Ireland on their own patch since Portugal won 4-2 in Belfast in 2013.
Mario Mandzukic, one of the trio that kept their place in the first XI, bundled home his 29th international goal after just nine minutes, moving him up to joint-second with Eduardo in the country's all-time scoring list.
That ended a run of five successive home matches without conceding a goal for Michael O'Neill's side, and they let another slip 10 minutes before half-time.
O'Neill sent Kyle Lafferty on in the 56th minute to try to provide more of a threat up front but it was Andrej Kramaric who rounded off the scoring with an unstoppable effort from 25 yards.
Alan Mannus could only push Cop's shot from the left-hand side of the box straight to Mandzukic, who eventually scrambled the ball over the line when Jonny Evans' attempted clearance rebounded off his chest.
Cacic's team eventually went in search of a second and, after Mandzukic put his foot through an advertising hoarding following a slight nudge from Evans, they got it 10 minutes before half-time.
Northern Ireland's defence was static when an unopposed Matej Mitrovic flicked Kramaric's corner into the six-yard box, where a free Cop stole in to volley home.
Kramaric received the ball in space and sent a sensational strike from distance beyond Mannus and into the top-right corner.
Cop fired narrowly wide from a free-kick before Lafferty was denied a consolation for the hosts by substitute Croatia goalkeeper Ivan Vargic with two minutes remaining.
