TORONTO: Ante Budimir guided Croatia to a 1-0 victory over a stubborn Panama side in their World Cup Group L clash on Tuesday, giving the Balkan side three crucial points and eliminating the Central Americans on a night where the stakes were high for both sides.
Croatia and Panama came into the match looking for their first points of the tournament and knowing that a defeat would send them home early after England and Ghana drew 0-0 earlier in the section’s other match.
Toronto Stadium was painted red, white and blue – the colors of the two countries’ flags – on a windy evening on Lake Ontario. The Croatian faithful serenaded the participants with a stirring rendition of Hrvatski Band Aid’s rally song “Moja domovina” before kick-off, setting the tone for a lively match.
Croatia finally found a way past Panama’s organized backline in the second half when Marco Pasalic played a smart backheel to Josip Stanisic, who jumped forward and delivered a cross into the box that Budimir guided towards goal to give Croatia the lead and send their wall of supporters behind the goal into a frenzy.
They almost added another when Pasalic was played alone, but he couldn’t beat goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera and then sent the rebound skyward.
The two teams engaged in a physical battle in midfield, but it was Panama who gave Croatia a scare in the first half with their pace on the wings as Jose Luis Rodriguez and Amir Murillo sent crosses into the box, although no one connected.
The victory was a sweet finale on a special night for 40-year-old Croatian midfield maestro Luka Modric, who made his 200th international cap and was thrown into the air by his teammates to mark the feat at the end of the match.
Although Panama have been eliminated, they still have plenty to play for in their final group stage match as they continue to seek their first World Cup victory, although it is a tough task against Group L leaders England.
Croatia will face second-placed Ghana, tied on four points with England, in their final group match.
