Panama v Croatia
Play By Play
The full-time whistle sounds at Toronto Stadium as Croatia defeat Panama 1-0 to boost their hopes of progressing to the round of 32, while eliminating Panama from the World Cup. After a quiet first half, Croatia took the lead nine minutes after the break as Stanisic’s right-wing centre was tapped in by Budimir at the back post. Croatia should have doubled their lead minutes later, but Pasalic saw his one-on-one attempt denied by Mosquera before the Orlando City attacker skewed the rebound over the woodwork. That spurred Panama on, and Livakovic was alert to deny Murillo in quick succession before tipping Harvey’s close-range header over the woodwork. Harvey had a golden opportunity to find an equaliser in the 80th minute, but the midfielder struck the side netting following a corner. The result sees Croatia move up to third place in Group L, one point behind England and Ghana. Panama, who battled resolutely in their last two World Cup games, bow out at the group stage. Panama created eight shots, with one on target, reflected by an xG of 0.62, whereas Croatia registered six shots with two on target, highlighted by an xG of 1.66. That concludes our live commentary of this 2026 World Cup Group L contest. We hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading and take care!
FULL-TIME: PANAMA 0-1 CROATIA
A promising opportunity for Panama goes to waste as Murillo skies the free-kick into the stands. I think that will be that...
YELLOW! Petar Sucic goes into the referee's notebook with a bad foul on Rodriguez 20 yards from goal. What an opportunity this is for Panama...
There will be FIVE minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half.
The second sees Blackman replaced by Davis. Will these changes have any impact?
A double change for Panama! The first sees Barcenas come off for Rodriguez.
We are minutes away from the full-time whistle. It's now or never for Christiansen's team...
Blackman takes a fabulous touch on the halfway line before making a bursting run, but the Croatia defence stands tall, and smother the danger...
Fajardo comes off for Londono. Can the substitute make something happen for his side?
Another change for Croatia sees Modric come off for Pasalic. The Real Madrid legend receives a standing ovation from supporters at Toronto Stadium!
CHANCE! Panama win a corner on the left-hand side, and it's floated to the back post where Harvey takes a touch before hitting the side-netting! It just does not seem to be happening for Panama...
Ramos comes off for Waterman.
Panama need something here if they want to stay in the tournament. They seem to be preparing some changes...
Play has resumed after the hydration break! Can Panama find an equaliser, or will Croatia hang onto a crucial win?
The second change sees Kovacic come off for Petar Sucic.
A double change for Croatia! The first sees Pasalic replaced by Luka Sucic.
Play has paused for a hydration break! Just as Panama started to find their feet in this second half...
WOW! WHAT A STOP! The right-wing corner is floated into the box, with Harvey sending a point-blank header towards goal, but Livakovic does brilliantly to push it over the woodwork! How have Panama not equalised?!
DOUBLE SAVE!!! Murillo races into the box from the right, and manages to get a shot away which is well saved by Livakovic. The rebound falls to Murillo, who sees his second attempt pushed out for a corner by the Croatia goalkeeper!
Panama are desperate for an equaliser here, but they need to be careful as they are leaving plenty of gaps in defence...
Worrying times for Panama as Croatia have avoided defeat in their last five matches when scoring first in the World Cup, since a 1-3 loss to Brazil in June 2014.
YELLOW! Barcenas picks up the first booking of the contest as he barges into Modric quite late! He can have no complaints with that caution...
Substitutes have scored three of Croatia's last eight World Cup goals. Prior to that, substitutes were responsible for just one of 36 World Cup goals for Croatia (excluding own goals).
WHAT A CHANCE! CROATIA SHOULD DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! Panama win a corner, but it's cleared by the Croatia defence. That allows Modric to play in Pasalic, who is through on goal, but his lobbed attempt is smothered by Mosquera. However, the goalkeeper spills it, allowing Pasalic another chance on goal, but the attacker skews an effort over the woodwork!!
