Nikola Vlašić’s late header turned a tense Croatia Ghana World Cup night into a 2-1 win and pushed Zlatko Dalić’s side into the last 32 in Philadelphia. The timing mattered as much as the finish: Ghana had equalised ten minutes earlier, but Croatia’s stronger attacking numbers finally became the result.
Sučić gives Croatia statistical control
Croatia carried the cleaner threat before half-time, and the numbers matched the feel of the game. They had 53% possession, more passes at 478 to Ghana’s 402, and forced the issue with the only goal of the first half.
That came in the 31st minute, when Petar Sučić collected Mateo Kovačić’s pass and drove a low right-footed shot through Derrick Luckassen’s legs into the bottom corner. Vlašić had already gone close on 17 minutes, while Ghana reached the break without a first-half shot on target for the third straight match noted in the report.
Luckassen revives Ghana after VAR check
Ghana improved after the interval and found more momentum despite finishing with only 1 shot on target from 6 attempts. Abdul Fatawu flashed a powerful effort narrowly over, and the pressure eventually produced the 73rd-minute equaliser.
