Croatia secured second place in Group F with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ghana in Philadelphia, thanks to a late header from Nikola Vlasic. The result eliminated Scotland from the World Cup.
Match Summary
Petar Sucic opened the scoring for Croatia in the 31st minute with a low drive from 25 yards. Ghana equalized through Derrick Luckassen in the 73rd minute after a lengthy VAR review, but Vlasic headed home the winner from a Luka Modric corner in the 83rd minute.
Key Moments
Despite Ghana's equalizer being initially flagged for offside, the referee awarded the goal after consulting the monitor. Croatia's expected goals (xG) were 0.42 compared to Ghana's 0.74, yet the African side managed only one shot on target.
Impact on Group Standings
The win moved Croatia to second place, while Ghana finished third. Both teams advanced to the knockout stages, with Croatia set to face Portugal and Ghana meeting Colombia. Scotland's elimination was confirmed as a result of this match.
Reaction
According to Will Unwin's live coverage, Ghana showed "so little ambition to win a match" and their style of play was criticized by observers. Luka Modric, at 40 years old, was praised for controlling the game and setting up the winner.
