Panama knocked out of World Cup after slender defeat by Croatia

Panama’s Cesar Blackman in motion with Croatia’s Mario Pasalic. — Reuters/File 

TORONTO: Ante Budimir guided Croatia to a 1-0 win over a cussed Panama facet of their World Cup Group L conflict on Tuesday, giving the Balkan facet a vital three factors and eliminating the Central People on an evening the place the stakes have been excessive for either side.

Croatia and Panama got here into the match on the lookout for their first factors of the match and realizing {that a} loss would ship them house early after England and Ghana drew 0-0 earlier within the different recreation within the part.

Toronto Stadium was painted crimson, white and blue — the colors of each international locations’ flags — on a windy night by Lake Ontario. Croatia’s devoted serenaded attendees with a transferring rendition of Hrvatski Band Assist’s “Moja domovina” rally tune earlier than kick-off, setting the tone for a vigorous match.

Croatia lastly discovered a well past Panama’s organised again line within the second half when Marco Pasalic performed a intelligent backheel to Josip Stanisic, who skipped ahead and swung a cross into the field that Budimir guided house to place Croatia forward and ship their wall of followers behind the purpose right into a frenzy.

They almost added one other when Pasalic was performed in on their own, although he couldn’t beat goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera after which despatched the rebound skyward.

Each groups went toe-to-toe in a bodily midfield battle however it was Panama who gave Croatia loads of scares within the opening interval with their tempo down the wings as Jose Luis Rodriguez and Amir Murillo despatched crosses into the field, although nobody related.

The victory was a candy finale on a particular evening for 40-year-old Croatia midfield maestro Luka Modric, who made his 2 hundredth worldwide look and was thrown within the air by his teammates to mark the achievement on the finish of the match.

Whereas Panama have been eradicated, they nonetheless have lots to play for of their remaining group-stage match as they proceed to seek for their first win at a World Cup, although it’s a troublesome ask in opposition to Group L leaders England.

Croatia face second-placed Ghana, who’re stage on 4 factors with England, of their remaining group match.