MANILA — Luka Modric etched his name deeper into FIFA World Cup history after becoming the oldest player to register an assist in the tournament, leading Croatia to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ghana and securing a place in the knockout stage on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines).
The 40-year-old Croatia captain produced the match-winning assist in the 83rd minute, curling in a corner kick that Nikola Vlasic powered home with a header to break a 1-1 deadlock and send Croatia through to the Round of 32. The match also marked Modric’s fifth FIFA World Cup appearance for his country.
Croatia struck first in the 31st minute when Luka Sucic unleashed a powerful long-range effort for his second international goal.
Ghana fought back in the 73rd minute as Derrick Luckassen found the equalizer, setting up a tense finish before Modric delivered the decisive set piece that Vlasic converted into the winning goal.
Croatia nearly doubled its advantage before halftime, but Vlasic’s effort struck the post while Marin Pongracic headed over the crossbar from another dangerous Modric free kick.
The victory lifted Croatia into the knockout phase as the second-placed team in Group L behind England. Ghana, which had already qualified before the match, finished third in the group.
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored five minutes apart in the second half as England defeated Panama, 2-0, to finish atop Group L and move into what appears to be a favorable path in the knockout stage.
Bellingham opened the scoring in the 62nd minute, stretching his left leg to poke the ball past goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera for his third World Cup goal and second of this year’s tournament.
Five minutes later, Bellingham delivered a cross from the left flank that Kane headed past Andrés Andrade for his 82nd international goal. The strike also made Kane England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with 11 tournament goals.
In other matches, defending champion Argentina defeated Jordan, 3-1; Congo beat Uzbekistan, 3-1; Algeria and Austria battled to a 3-3 draw to qualify for the next round; while Portugal and Colombia settled for a scoreless draw./PN
