Substitute Gonçalo Ramos scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Portugal edged Croatia 2-1 in a pulsating World Cup Round of 32 clash in Toronto, while Croatia were left frustrated after Josko Gvardiol’s late equaliser was ruled out following another VAR intervention.
Croatia struck first through Ivan Perisic before Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo responded with his maiden goal in a World Cup knockout match from the penalty spot.
The contest featured four goals ruled out for offside, including a spectacular Ronaldo finish that was chalked off after a VAR review.
Portugal dominated the opening half and nearly took the lead inside four minutes when Rafael Leão set up Bruno Fernandes, but goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic produced a fine save before Croatian defenders scrambled the rebound clear.
Ronaldo later blasted a free-kick into the defensive wall, while Renato Veiga headed over from Nuno Mendes’ corner after finding himself unmarked inside the penalty area.
Despite spending much of the first half under pressure, Croatia looked transformed after Igor Matanovic came on at the break. Three minutes into the second half, Mateo Kovacic forced Diogo Costa into a sharp save after bursting into the box.
Croatia eventually broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when Josip Stanisic delivered a cross that evaded Matanovic, allowing Perisic to finish from close range at the far post.
The Croatians believed they had doubled their advantage moments later after Matanovic converted Mario Pasalic’s low delivery, but VAR confirmed Pasalic had been offside in the build-up.
Portugal almost responded immediately as Leão crashed a powerful strike against the crossbar before Ronaldo thought he had produced one of the tournament’s finest goals.
The veteran expertly controlled Joao Cancelo’s long pass and beat Livakovic, only for VAR to rule he had strayed offside.
Ronaldo eventually found the scoresheet from the penalty spot after Nikola Vlasic wrestled Veiga to the ground during a corner, with referee Espen Eskas awarding the spot-kick following a video review.
Ronaldo calmly converted down the middle to level the contest.
Croatia remained dangerous, with Kovacic striking the post after a surging run before Costa tipped his long-range follow-up effort over the crossbar.
Another Croatian goal was disallowed with 10 minutes remaining when Luka Sucic finished off Kovacic’s pass, only for the assistant’s flag to deny him.
Portugal pushed for a winner late on, with Veiga heading wide from another corner, while Pasalic squandered a clear opportunity at the opposite end by nodding Perisic’s cross off target.
The decisive moment arrived in stoppage time as Leão floated in a cross that substitute Ramos met with a towering header to seal Portugal’s place in the last 16.
Croatia thought they had rescued the tie deep into added time when Gvardiol bundled the ball home, but the effort was disallowed after officials ruled Matanovic had made the slightest touch before the ball reached the offside Pasalic, ending a dramatic encounter in heartbreak for Croatia.
