Portugal secured a spot in the World Cup last 16 after defeating Croatia in a match that featured late drama and a controversial disallowed goal. The game saw Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career continue, while it marked a likely final World Cup appearance for Croatia captain Luka Modric.
The match, held in Toronto, concluded with Portugal winning after a second-half comeback. Ivan Perisic initially put Croatia ahead. Ronaldo then equalised from the penalty spot, marking his first-ever goal in the knockout stages of the World Cup. Later, Goncalo Ramos scored the winning goal in added time.
The atmosphere inside the stadium was described as lively throughout the evening. Portugal largely controlled the first half, creating early opportunities. Bruno Fernandes had a shot saved by Dominik Livakovic, and another attempt was blocked by the defence. Pedro Neto was a consistent threat for Portugal in the opening period, delivering several crosses into the box.
Second-half turnaround and VAR decisions
The second half began with a shift in momentum as Croatia took the lead through Perisic. His goal came from a cross from the right, which he controlled and then struck past Diogo Costa. Croatia continued to press, with Petar Sucic finding Igor Matanovic, who scored, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Sucic later had a strong shot saved by Costa.
Portugal also had an effort hit the bar from Rafael Leao, and Ronaldo had a goal ruled out for offside. A penalty was awarded to Portugal after a VAR review, with Vlasic deemed to have fouled Leao in the area. Ronaldo converted the penalty, bringing Portugal back into the game. He was later substituted off for Ruben Neves, a decision made by coach Roberto Martinez.
Goncalo Ramos, who came on as a substitute, scored the decisive goal for Portugal from a Rafael Leao cross in added time. However, the drama was not over. Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol scored what appeared to be an equaliser in the 113th minute, but it was disallowed after a VAR review. The decision was made due to an offside call involving Igor Matanovic, who was deemed to have touched Ivan Perisic’s cross, making Mario Pasalic offside despite the ball deflecting off Portugal’s Renato Veiga. Premier League referee Jarred Gillet recommended an on-field check, leading to the goal being ruled out by official Espen Eskaas.
Looking ahead for Portugal
The victory means Portugal will now face Spain in the last 16. This upcoming match will be a rematch of the 2025 Nations League final, where Ronaldo’s side emerged victorious against the European Champions. The performance of Portugal’s midfield has been a topic of discussion, with players like Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Bruno Fernandes having been highlighted.
The question of whether Goncalo Ramos should start in place of Ronaldo in future matches has also been raised, despite Ronaldo’s penalty goal. Martinez faces selection challenges following the match. Ramos expressed his enjoyment of high-stakes games, stating, "It’s difficult because it’s a game if you don’t win, you go home. But for me, especially, I love those types of moments, I love those types of games, I want to play every game like that, I want to be in the big moment."
The match concluded with Portugal securing their place in the next round of the tournament.
Read Also
Source: skysports.com
You may also like
Joel Kavanagh is a Sports News Writer at News-GB. He started on a Midlands sports desk. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from De Montfort University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Leicester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight calendar. “In sport news, the first ten minutes decide everything.”