Budimir punishes Panama as half-time change keeps Croatia alive

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GOAL

·24 June 2026

Budimir punishes Panama as half-time change keeps Croatia alive

Croatia kept their World Cup hopes alive with a narrow 1–0 victory over Panama at BMO Field in Toronto. Ante Budimir came off the bench at half-time and needed just eight minutes to score the decisive goal, finishing from Josip Stanisic's cross in the 54th minute.

Dominik Livakovic was equally vital, producing crucial saves to deny Panama when they created the better first-half chances. Cristian Martínez twice forced the Croatian goalkeeper into action around the 22nd and 23rd minutes, with one header pushed onto the crossbar. GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Panama v Croatia.

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Winners

Ante Budimir (Croatia)

Ante Budimir produced the match-winning moment that keeps Croatia's World Cup campaign alive. The striker came off the bench at half-time to replace the ineffective Petar Musa and needed just eight minutes to make his mark, scoring with a left-footed finish from Josip Stanisic's cross at 54 minutes.

Budimir positioned himself excellently at the far post to meet Stanisic's delivery, extending his foot to guide the ball past Orlando Mosquera. The goal made him the first Osasuna player ever to score at a World Cup, rewarding Zlatko Dalić's decision to change the attacking shape at the interval.

His introduction transformed Croatia's attacking threat after a frustrating opening 45 minutes. The three points lift Croatia to third in Group L with qualification still within reach, and Budimir's intervention was the decisive factor in reviving their tournament hopes.

Dominik Livakovic (Croatia)

Dominik Livakovic ensured Croatia's narrow lead held with a series of vital saves throughout the match. The goalkeeper denied Panama when they created genuine opportunities, particularly in a first half where the CONCACAF side posed more threat than Croatia's possession dominance suggested.

Livakovic's defining sequence came around the 22nd and 23rd minutes when Cristian Martínez threatened twice in quick succession. He saved the first effort from inside the area, then stretched to palm a header onto the crossbar. At 68 minutes, he pushed away a point-blank header to protect Croatia's lead.

After conceding four goals against England in the opening match, Croatia needed their goalkeeper to provide stability. Livakovic delivered exactly that, and his interventions proved as important to the victory as Budimir's goal, preserving a clean sheet under sustained pressure.

Loser

Petar Musa (Croatia)

Petar Musa endured a frustrating 45 minutes as Croatia's starting striker before being replaced at half-time. The forward struggled to impose himself on the match and provided little focal point for Croatia's patient buildup play against Panama's compact defensive block.

Musa barely touched the ball during his time on the pitch, failing to win aerial duels or hold possession to bring midfielders into attacking positions. He made minimal impact on Panama's defensive structure, and Croatia's best moments came through the midfield rather than their centre-forward.

The damning verdict on his performance came immediately after his withdrawal. Replacement Ante Budimir scored within eight minutes of entering, highlighting precisely what Musa had failed to provide. Dalić's half-time change turned the match, making Musa's ineffective display all the more glaring.