TORONTO: Ante Budimir led Croatia to a 1-0 victory over a stubborn Panama team in their World Cup Group L clash on Tuesday, giving the Balkan team 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 loss would send them home early after England and Ghana tied 0-0 earlier in the section’s other match.
Toronto Stadium was painted red, white and blue (the colors of both countries’ flags) on a windy afternoon next to Lake Ontario. The Croatian faithful serenaded those in attendance with a stirring rendition of the rally song “Moja domovina” by Hrvatski Band Aid before kick-off, setting the tone for a lively match.
Croatia finally found a way past Panama’s organized defensive line in the second half when Marco Pasalic gave a clever backheel to Josip Stanisic, who leaped forward and launched a cross into the box which Budimir guided home to put Croatia ahead and send their wall of fans behind the goal into a frenzy.
They almost added another when Pasalic played alone, although he couldn’t beat goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera and then sent the rebound into the sky.
Both teams went toe-to-toe in a physical battle in midfield, but it was Panama who scared Croatia in the first period with their pace down the flanks as José Luis Rodríguez and Amir Murillo sent crosses into the box, although no one connected.
The victory was a sweet ending to a special night for Croatian midfield maestro Luka Modric, 40, who made his 200th international appearance and was thrown into the air by his teammates to mark the achievement at the end of the match.
While Panama has been eliminated, they still have plenty to play for in their final group match as they continue to seek their first World Cup victory, although it is a tall order against Group L leaders England.
Croatia will face second-placed Ghana, tied on four points with England, in its final group match.
