Portugal secures World Cup last 16 spot
Portugal advanced to the World Cup last 16 after a dramatic victory against Croatia in Toronto. The match saw Gonçalo Ramos score the winning goal in added time, following a wild finish that included multiple VAR interventions.
The game was billed as a significant occasion for two footballing icons, Luka Modrić and Cristiano Ronaldo. Modrić, at 40, played in what is likely his final World Cup, while Ronaldo continues in the tournament. Both players scored during a match filled with incidents, though neither was the most influential on the pitch. Instead, the contest was characterized by a hard-fought battle between two determined teams, with momentum shifting frequently.
The atmosphere in the stadium was lively after a hot day in Toronto. Portugal largely controlled the first half, creating several opportunities. An early chance came when Rafael Leão drove down the left wing and delivered a low cut-back to Bruno Fernandes, whose two shots were saved by Dominik Livaković and blocked by the defense.
Pedro Neto was a persistent threat for Portugal in the initial period, particularly in his duel with Ivan Perišić, who was playing at full-back for Croatia. Neto consistently delivered whipped crosses into the box, though they remained unrewarded. One such cross saw Livaković miss the ball, but it also eluded Ronaldo. Another cross around the half-hour mark saw both Ronaldo and Fernandes stretch to connect at the far post, but they were just too late.
Croatia’s second-half surge and VAR drama
Croatia concluded the first half content, despite being on the defensive. They confidently withstood Portugal‘s attacks, maintained a strong presence in midfield, and aimed to isolate Martin Baturina against João Cancelo to deliver crosses for Ante Budimir. This strategy was not overly successful, partly due to the physical attention from Rúben Dias.
At half-time, Zlatko Dalić replaced Budimir with Igor Matanović, and Croatia‘s performance immediately shifted. They took the initiative, while Portugal‘s intensity waned. Eight minutes into the second half, Croatia took the lead. Josep Stanišić delivered a cross from the right that bypassed everyone until Perišić emerged at the back post, controlled the ball, and drove it low past Diogo Costa.
Following their goal, Croatia briefly dominated. Petar Sučić found Matanović in the box, who scored, but the goal was disallowed for offside. In the 59th minute, Sučić himself cut in from the left and unleashed a powerful shot that Costa saved with his legs.
During this period, Leão struck the Croatian bar from 25 yards, and a Ronaldo goal was ruled out for offside. The game then saw a moment of assistance for Portugal when Livaković mishandled a backpass, conceding a corner. The subsequent corner led to a VAR review, where Nikola Vlašić was found to have held Leão. The Norwegian referee, Espen Eskås, was sent to the monitor, and a penalty was awarded.
Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to take the penalty, converting it to level the score. This marked his first ever World Cup knockout-stage goal, and at 41, he became the oldest player to score in the World Cup knockouts, surpassing his former teammate Pepe, who scored at 39 years and nine months. His penalty came shortly after an earlier goal was disallowed for offside. This action may have influenced manager Roberto Martínez‘s decision not to substitute him at that moment, despite earlier considerations.
Portugal was back in the game, but the dynamic remained challenging. Croatia appeared superior and had further chances, including two long-range efforts from Mateo Kovačić and a saved shot from Matanović. Sučić also had another goal disallowed for offside. Ronaldo was eventually substituted for Rúben Neves with 10 minutes remaining, a move that indicated Martínez’s assessment of the match.
The substitution proved effective, as Portugal tightened their defense and began to control possession in the final stages. Play was repeatedly directed to Leão, who ultimately delivered the decisive contribution. His cross was flicked into the net by Gonçalo Ramos, securing Portugal‘s place in the last 16. The celebrations for the goal were extensive, leading the referee to add three extra minutes to stoppage time.
In the final moments, Croatia believed they had found an equalizer, but VAR once again intervened, ruling out Joško Gvardiol‘s goal for offside due to a slight touch from Matanović. This decision sparked protests, with plastic bottles thrown onto the pitch, but the outcome remained unchanged. Portugal will now face Spain in the last-16 tie, following Spain‘s 3-0 victory over Austria.
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Source: theguardian.com
Lucy Ashby is a Sports Reporter at NewsGB. She reported on the county circuit and Team GB. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Durham University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Durham, she plays club cricket and follows distance running. “The best sport reporting starts by listening.”
