PHILADELPHIA — Nikola Vlasic headed in Luka Modric’s 83rd-minute corner to lift Croatia to a 2-1 victory over Ghana on Saturday and a second-place finish in Group L at the World Cup.
Vlasic’s perfect finish off the inside of the left post came only 10 minutes after Derrick Luckassen had equalized for Ghana in his international debut, with half the time in between spent on a VAR review to determine whether Luckassen’s goal was onside.
Petar Susic also scored early for Croatia (2-1-0, 6 points), who needed only a draw to reach the last 32. Securing second place guarantees the 2022 third-place finishers a match against the second-place team from Group K, most likely Portugal or Colombia, on Thursday in Toronto.
Ghana star Antoine Semenyo limped off the pitch in the late stages after suffering an apparent ankle injury, but was able to return to complete the 90 minutes.
The Black Stars (1-1-1, 4 points), who finish third in the group, were already assured of qualification after Friday night’s results. They’ll meet the winner of Group K, again, either Portugal or Colombia, on Friday in Kansas City, Mo.
The third-place finish means Ghana won’t have to travel back to Canada, where former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey was denied entry by immigration officials while facing charges of rape and sexual assault in Britain.
Susic’s 31st-minute strike from several yards beyond the penalty area into the bottom left corner gave Croatia a deserved first-half lead.
Ghana were much improved in the second, yet Luckassen’s 73rd-minute goal came on the Africans’ first effort on target, and only after an original offside decision was overturned.
It was Ernest Nuamah who delivered the inswinging free kick over Croatia’s defensive line. And Luckassen clearly came from an onside position to drive it home at the back post.
Eventually, referee Drew Fischer was summoned to the monitor, where he determined Kwasi Sibol, who was in an offside position, did not interfere in the play.
Luckassen was only on the field because manager Carlos Queiroz spared his three players on yellow cards.
The Ghanaian joy was short-lived as Modric’s corner sailed beyond the penalty spot toward the back post, where Vlasic was given space to meet it with the side of his head and nod it downward in the one place goalkeeper Benjamin Asare could not save it.
