Croatia and Ghana squared off in a FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L clash. Both sides had already named their starting elevens, and players wrapped up their pre-match warm-ups before the referee's whistle sent the two teams into the opening half, setting up a match that would swing back and forth all the way to the closing whistle.
Fouls flew inside the first few minutes. Croatia's Martin Baturina won a free kick in his own defensive half after being fouled, before Ghana's Marvin Seneya conceded one of his own, handing Croatia another free kick. In the 3:57th minute, Petar Sučić also earned a free kick in Croatia's own half following a foul, while Ghana's Kamaldeen Sulemana was penalized for an early foul in the same minute. By the 7:57 mark, Baturina had drawn yet another foul in his defensive half to win a free kick, and a foul by Elisha Owusu gave Croatia one more.
Croatia carved out the game's first real chance in the 16:11th minute. Nikola Vlašić struck a firm right-footed effort from outside the box after Martin Baturina's assist off a rapid counter-attack, but the ball cannoned off the left-hand post and away. Minutes later, in the 19:40th minute, a foul by Ghana's Kwasi Sibo gave Croatia a free kick, while Sučić drew another foul in the opposition half to win his side yet another set piece. At 20:37, Marin Pongračić rose to meet Luka Modrić's cross from a set piece with a header from the middle of the box, but it sailed over the crossbar.
At 23:53, Ghana's Thomas Partey won a free kick in his own defensive third, while at the same moment a foul was called against Croatia's Ante Budimir. Play was briefly interrupted at 24:46 for a drinks break. When action resumed, a foul on Ghana's Elisha Owusu was given at 29:05, and in the same passage of play Martin Baturina was awarded a free kick out on the left flank.
Sučić's Strike Puts Croatia Ahead
At 29:45, off another Luka Modrić delivery, Ivan Perišić headed goalwards from the centre of the box aiming for the bottom-left corner, only for Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare to pull off a fine save. Croatia's pressure paid off soon after. In the 30:52nd minute, Petar Sučić drilled a powerful right-footed strike from outside the penalty area into the bottom-left corner, with Mateo Kovačić credited with the assist, putting Croatia 1-0 up.
Croatia continued to dominate after taking the lead. At 34:01, Baturina won a free kick in his own defensive third following a foul by Kwasi Sibo. At 37:06, Mateo Kovačić fired a right-footed shot from outside the box that was blocked by a Ghana defender, with the chance created by Sučić. Ghana hit back at 39:27 when Antoine Semenyo shot right-footed from the right side of the penalty area, the effort flying narrowly wide of the left post, from a chance fashioned by Jonas Adjetey.
Before the interval, at 42:50, Nikola Vlašić's foul gave Ghana a free kick, while Ghana's Gideon Mensah also won a free kick after being fouled out on the left flank. In the 45th minute, the fourth official signalled three minutes of added time for the first half. At 45:46, Thomas Partey conceded a free kick with a foul, while Petar Sučić won another free kick for Croatia in the attacking half. The first half finally ended at 48:07 with Croatia leading 1-0.
Halftime Changes, Second Half Begins
Ghana reshuffled at the break, withdrawing Jonas Adjetey for Kojo Peprah Oppong and replacing Elisha Owusu with Abdul Fatawu. The second half then got underway with Croatia still 1-0 up, both sides returning to the pitch to resume battle. Fatawu wasted little time trying to make an impact, firing a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area in the 46th minute that drifted off target, Ghana's first missed chance of the second half.
Croatia Hold Firm Under Ghana's Pressure
At 50:25, Croatia's Ante Budimir conceded another foul, gifting Ghana a free kick out on the right that Marvin Seneya duly won. At 52:02, Ghana's Antoine Semenyo was caught offside, his attacking move cut short. Moments later, at 52:30, Marvin Seneya fouled to concede a free kick to Croatia, which Martin Baturina won in his own defensive third.
At 54:22, Ghana's Derrick Lukasen won a free kick in his own half following a foul by Ante Budimir. A minute later, at 55:25, a corner was conceded off Luka Modrić, handing Ghana a corner-kick opportunity. From that corner, at 56:04, Kamaldeen Sulemana struck a powerful left-footed effort from outside the box that Croatian defenders blocked before it could threaten the goal. At 58:45, a foul by Jordan Ayew gave Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković a free kick in his own defensive third.
At 64:54, Ghana won a corner off Josip Stanišić. Croatia made their first substitution soon after, sending on Igor Matanović for Ante Budimir at 65:58. At 67:05, Abdul Fatawu won a well-worked free kick for Ghana out on the right wing, the result of a foul by Ivan Perišić, and the referee flashed a yellow card at Perišić at 67:08 for the dangerous challenge.
Shortly after, at 68:03, play was halted for a drinks break, which ended at 70:48 with both sides ready to resume.
Lukasen's Goal And A VAR Check Level The Score
Ghana made another change at 70:49, bringing on Brandon Thomas-Asante for Jordan Ayew. Moments later, at 70:55, Ghana made a further switch, introducing Ernest Nuamah for Kamaldeen Sulemana. At 71:52, a foul on Marin Pongračić was given, handing Thomas Partey a free kick in the attacking half.
Ghana made the most of that opening. At 72:29, Derrick Lukasen struck a powerful left-footed effort from close range into the bottom-right corner to level the score, with Ernest Nuamah supplying the cross from the resulting set piece. The goal was immediately sent to VAR, and at 75:12 it was confirmed to stand, with the scoreboard now reading Croatia 1, Ghana 1.
Vlašić's Header Puts Croatia Back In Front
Croatia responded to the setback with a change of their own. At 77:24, Mario Pašalić replaced Mateo Kovačić. At 79:41, Ghana's Abdul Fatawu won a free kick in his own defensive half after a foul by Nikola Vlašić. At 80:04, a foul on Martin Baturina was given, allowing Marvin Seneya to win a free kick out on the right wing.
Croatia came close to retaking the lead at 81:14, when Mario Pašalić fired a left-footed shot from outside the box, but Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare made a smart save, keeping it out through the middle of the goal; the pass for that effort came from Martin Baturina. Asare's save then sent the ball out of play, and at 81:17 Croatia won another corner.
Croatia finally regained the lead at 82:09. Nikola Vlašić powered a header from the centre of the penalty area into the bottom-left corner of the net, with Luka Modrić supplying an excellent cross straight after the corner to set up the goal, putting Croatia 2-1 ahead.
Late Changes, An Injury And Seven Minutes Of Stoppage Time
The contest stayed tense even after Croatia's second goal. At 83:52, Croatia's Igor Matanović was fouled out on the left, winning his side a free kick, the foul committed by Ghana's Kwasi Sibo. Ghana made a change soon after, at 84:13, taking off Kwasi Sibo for Kaleb Yirenkyi.
At 86:16, the match was stopped briefly after Ghana's Antoine Semenyo picked up an injury. Croatia then made two changes in quick succession: at 87:16, Marko Pašalić replaced Martin Baturina, while Joško Gvardiol came on for Nikola Vlašić. Play resumed at 87:31 with both teams ready to continue.
At 88:34, Croatia's Igor Matanović was caught offside. Moments later, at 89:02, Ghana's Antoine Semenyo was also flagged offside. At 89:56, Petar Sučić won a free kick for Croatia in his own defensive half following a foul by Ghana's Kaleb Yirenkyi. At 90:26, Croatia's Joško Gvardiol won another free kick out on the left, this time from a foul by Ghana's Marvin Seneya.
At 90:19, the fourth official on the pitch had already signalled seven minutes of added time, meaning that lengthy period of stoppage time would prove crucial both to Croatia's hopes of holding on to their 2-1 lead and to Ghana's hopes of finding a second equalizer.
