Portugal squeezed past Croatia in one of the most dramatic matches of the World Cup so far, scoring deep into stoppage time before surviving a lengthy VAR review to secure a 2-1 win in Toronto.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second-half penalty cancelled out Ivan Perisic’s opener before substitute Goncalo Ramos headed home in the 94th minute to seemingly send Portugal through.
There was still time for more chaos as Croatia thought they had forced extra time through Josko Gvardiol in the 103rd minute, only for a VAR intervention to rule the goal out for offside and end their World Cup campaign in heartbreaking fashion.
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Portugal dominate but fail to find breakthrough
Portugal controlled much of the first half and created the better chances, but found Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic in inspired form.
Croatia threatened early when Ante Budimir forced Diogo Costa into a save, but Roberto Martinez’s side soon took control.
Bruno Fernandes tested Livakovic twice from Rafael Leao’s dangerous run, while Joao Cancelo volleyed over after another threatening Portugal corner.
Cristiano Ronaldo also had opportunities, firing a free-kick into the wall before narrowly failing to connect with a teasing cross from Pedro Neto.
Perisic puts Croatia ahead
Croatia emerged with far greater intent after the interval and immediately began asking questions of Portugal’s defence.
Diogo Costa denied Mateo Kovacic and Nikola Vlasic early in the second half before Zlatko Dalic’s side found the breakthrough in the 53rd minute.
Josip Stanisic delivered an inviting cross into the penalty area, where the unmarked Perisic controlled the ball before firing a low finish across Costa and into the far corner.
Croatia almost doubled their advantage shortly afterwards when Igor Matanovic finished from close range, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Portugal looked rattled, and Kovacic came within inches of extending the lead when Costa tipped his curling effort onto the post.
Ronaldo ends knockout drought
Portugal gradually regained their composure and were handed a route back into the match midway through the second half.
Following a lengthy VAR review, Croatia were penalised when Vlasic was judged to have pulled Veiga’s shirt inside the area at a corner.
Ronaldo stepped forward and calmly converted the resulting penalty, firing straight down the middle to score his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match.
Ramos delivers late drama
Croatia came agonisingly close to finding a late winner when Mario Pasalic headed wide from Luka Modric’s superb cross.
Instead, it was Portugal who struck the decisive blow.
Four minutes into stoppage time, Leao burst into space down the left and delivered a magnificent cross into the area. Goncalo Ramos rose between two defenders and powered a header into the top corner to send the Portugal supporters into celebration.
The goal appeared to have settled the contest, but the drama was far from over.
VAR heartbreak ends Croatia’s World Cup
With time almost expired, Croatia launched one final attack.
Perisic’s hopeful cross from the left was flicked on by Matanovic and eventually fell to Gvardiol, who smashed home from close range to spark wild celebrations among the Croatian players and supporters.
However, the goal was checked by VAR.
After a lengthy review and an on-field consultation, officials ruled that Pasalic had been offside when Matanovic made the faintest of touches on the ball, according to the device installed inside the ball itself, meaning the goal could not stand.
The decision provoked furious reactions from Croatia’s players and supporters, with bottles thrown onto the pitch causing a further delay before the match could finally be concluded.
When the final whistle eventually arrived after 19 minutes of stoppage time, Portugal were left celebrating a remarkable and rather fortunate win, to set up a last-16 clash with Spain.
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