Vlasic’s late header secures second place for Croatia over Ghana in World Cup 2026 Group L

Croatia secured second place in World Cup 2026 Group L with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ghana in Philadelphia. Nikola Vlasic was the hero for the Vatreni, scoring the decisive goal in the 83rd minute after his earlier effort had struck the post.

The win ensures Croatia, the 2018 finalists, will advance in the tournament, while Ghana’s World Cup campaign concludes at the group stage. The match was a see-saw affair, with Croatia taking the lead, then seeing it pegged back before Vlasic’s late intervention.

Sucic Opens the Scoring

Croatia took the lead in the 30th minute through Petar Sucic. The midfielder received a pass from Mateo Kovacic and, exploiting the space afforded to him, fired a low shot from distance into the bottom-left corner. Sucic had also hit the woodwork earlier in the first half, and his goal briefly put Croatia top of the nascent group standings.

Ghana Equalize Late On

The European side held their advantage until the 73rd minute when Derrick Luckassen found the back of the net for Ghana. The equalizer came from a well-worked set piece, with Fatawu providing the assist shortly after his introduction as a substitute. The goal saw Croatia drop to third in the live standings, raising the stakes for the final minutes.

Vlasic’s Dramatic Winner

The drama continued as Nikola Vlasic, who had been unfortunate to hit the post in the first half, found redemption in the 83rd minute. His header, after a corner, cruelly kissed the post before finding the back of the net, clinching all three points for Croatia and securing their runner-up position in the group.

Player Performances

Croatia’s defence, marshalled by Josip Sutalo, was largely solid, with Sutalo winning every duel. Captain Luka Modric, at 40 years old, ran the show from midfield, creating the most chances and even making a crucial defensive block. Mateo Kovacic also played a key role in midfield before his substitution.

For Ghana, goalkeeper Benjamin Asare made a crucial save to deny Pasalic in the final 10 minutes, keeping the score level before the corner that led to Croatia’s winner. Derrick Luckassen’s goal was a moment of quality, and Fatawu’s introduction provided a spark for the Black Stars. However, despite their efforts, Ghana could not find a second equalizer.

Key facts

The result means Croatia will progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup 2026, while Ghana exits the competition. The Vatreni will look to build on this momentum as they advance.

Source: Sports Mole Football RSS – https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/croatia/world-cup-2026/feature/vlasic-gets-woodwork-fortune-croatia-2-1-ghana-player-ratings_600245.html