Ante Budimir guided Croatia to a 1-0 âwin over a stubborn Panama side in their World Cup Group L clash on Tuesday, giving the Balkan side a crucial three points and eliminating the Central Americans on a night where the stakes â were high for both sides.
Croatia and Panama came into the match looking for their first points of the tournament and knowing that a loss would send them home early after England and Ghana drew 0-0 earlier in the other game in the section.
Toronto â Stadium was painted red, white and blue - âthe â colours of both countries' flags - on a windy evening by Lake Ontario. Croatia's faithful serenaded attendees with a moving rendition of Hrvatski Band â Aid's "Moja domovina" rally song before kickoff, setting the tone for a lively match.
Croatia âfinally â found a way past Panama's âorganised back line in the second half when Marco Pasalic played a clever backheel to Josip Stanisic, who skipped forward and swung a cross into the âbox that Budimir guided home to put Croatia âahead and send their wall of fans behind the goal into a frenzy.
They nearly added another when Pasalic was played in all alone, though he could not beat goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera and â then sent the rebound skyward.
Both teams went toe-to-toe in a physical midfield battle but it was Panama who gave Croatia plenty of scares in the opening period with their pace down the wings as Jose Luis Rodriguez and Amir Murillo sent crosses into the box, though no one connected.
The victory was a sweet finale on a special night for 40-year-old Croatia midfield maestro Luka Modric, âwho made his 200th international appearance and was thrown in the âair by his teammates to mark the achievement at the end âof the match.
While Panama have been â eliminated, they still have a lot to play for in their final â group-stage match as they continue to search for their first win at a World Cup, though âit is a difficult âask against Group L leaders England.
Croatia âface second-placed Ghana, who are level on four âpoints with England, in their final group match on Saturday.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Croatia and Panama came into the match looking for their first points of the tournament and knowing that a loss would send them home early after England and Ghana drew 0-0 earlier in the other game in the section.
Toronto â Stadium was painted red, white and blue - âthe â colours of both countries' flags - on a windy evening by Lake Ontario. Croatia's faithful serenaded attendees with a moving rendition of Hrvatski Band â Aid's "Moja domovina" rally song before kickoff, setting the tone for a lively match.
Croatia âfinally â found a way past Panama's âorganised back line in the second half when Marco Pasalic played a clever backheel to Josip Stanisic, who skipped forward and swung a cross into the âbox that Budimir guided home to put Croatia âahead and send their wall of fans behind the goal into a frenzy.
They nearly added another when Pasalic was played in all alone, though he could not beat goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera and â then sent the rebound skyward.
Both teams went toe-to-toe in a physical midfield battle but it was Panama who gave Croatia plenty of scares in the opening period with their pace down the wings as Jose Luis Rodriguez and Amir Murillo sent crosses into the box, though no one connected.
The victory was a sweet finale on a special night for 40-year-old Croatia midfield maestro Luka Modric, âwho made his 200th international appearance and was thrown in the âair by his teammates to mark the achievement at the end âof the match.
While Panama have been â eliminated, they still have a lot to play for in their final â group-stage match as they continue to search for their first win at a World Cup, though âit is a difficult âask against Group L leaders England.
Croatia âface second-placed Ghana, who are level on four âpoints with England, in their final group match on Saturday.
Additional reporting by Reuters
