Ante Budimir struck in the second half to secure a tight 1-0 victory for Croatia over Panama at BMO Field.
The veteran striker proved to be the hero in a cagey World Cup encounter on Tuesday. His single goal settled a match that offered very few clear-cut chances for either side.
Both teams entered this crucial group stage fixture desperate for points after opening defeats. Croatia needed a win to keep their tournament hopes alive, while Panama aimed to cause a major upset.
The match started at a slow pace with Croatia dominating the ball. Midfield maestro Luka Modrić controlled the tempo, but Panama defended deeply and limited any space in the final third.
Panama defender César Blackman worked tirelessly to halt Croatian advances down the flanks. Yoel Bárcenas also tracked back constantly to help his defenders contain the European attackers.
Neither goalkeeper faced a serious test during a quiet first half. The referee blew the whistle for half-time with the score locked at 0-0 and no shots on target recorded.
Both managers needed to spark some life into their teams during the interval. Croatia required faster passing to break the lines, while Panama needed to show more ambition on the counter-attack.
The decisive moment arrived in the 54th minute of play. Budimir found space inside the penalty box, latched onto a pass, and guided home a neat finish past the goalkeeper.
Panama attempted to rally but struggled to retain possession against Croatia's pressing. Frustration grew, and Bárcenas received a yellow card in the 61st minute for a mistimed tackle.
Croatia used their experience to manage the closing stages of the game. Deep into added time, Petar Sučić received a yellow card as Croatia successfully shut down Panama's final desperate attack.
Croatia controlled the game with 64 percent possession and completed 272 accurate passes. However, chances remained incredibly rare, with Croatia recording an expected goals value of 0.05 against Panama's 0.06.
This hard-fought victory gives Croatia three vital points as they fight to qualify for the knockout rounds. Panama faces an uphill battle after failing to register a shot on target.
