Croatia kept their World Cup alive with a 2-1 victory in the Group L decider against Ghana Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field, as Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic''s 83rd minute header overturned Derrick Luckassen's 73rd minute equalizer.
Carlos Queiroz made three changes from the England draw, handing starts to Derrick Luckassen, Kamal Deen Sulemana and Elisha Owusu. Croatia took the lead in the 23rd minute after smashing a low drive below Benjamin Asare for 1-0.
Ghana responded twenty-two minutes after halftime. Derrick Luckassen swept home from 12 yards to make it 1-1 in the 73rd minute.
The parity lasted 16 minutes. Ivan Perisic’s deep cross from the left found Nikola Vlasic unmarked at the back post, and the player headed past Asare in the 83rd minute minute to restore Croatia’s lead.
Ghana pushed for a late equalizer, with Antoine Semenyo forcing Dominik Livakovic into a save in the 87th minute and Thomas Partey’s 25-yard drive flying over in stoppage time. Croatia held firm through five minutes of added time to secure their first points of Group L.
Ghana finished the Group with 4 points after 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss - to progress to the Round of 32.
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