Vlašić scores winner as Croatia beat Ghana 2-1 to reach World Cup knockout stage
PHILADELPHIA: Croatia earned a spot in the World Cup knockout round, getting goals from Nikola Vlašić and Luka Sučić to beat Ghana 2-1 on Saturday. Ghana had already secured advancement from the group stage for the first time since 2010. Vlašić headed home Luka Modrić’s corner in the 83rd minute to score the winner and put Croatia back in contention after it finished third in 2022. The win means Croatia finished second behind England in Group L, with Ghana third. Sučić scored in the 31st minute for Croatia on an absolute rocket from outside the box for his second career international goal. Derrick Luckassen scored the equalizer that — — after a brief review — sent thousands of fans wearing yellow into a frenzy.


