Portugal secured a 2-1 victory over Croatia in a dramatic World Cup Round of 32 match, with Gonçalo Ramos scoring the winning goal in stoppage time. The win means Portugal will now face Spain in the Round of 16. The match saw several contentious moments, including a disallowed Croatian equalizer.
The game was marked by a late surge from Portugal, which overcame a 1-0 second-half deficit. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal in a World Cup knockout match via a penalty kick, leveling the score at 1-1 in the 68th minute. This penalty was awarded after a VAR review indicated that Nikola Vlašić had fouled Renato Veiga in the box during a corner kick.
Before Ronaldo’s goal, Croatia had taken the lead in the 53rd minute. Ivan Perišić found the net after a cross from Josip Stanišić. Despite Portugal’s dominant first half in terms of possession and attacking intent, they were unable to convert their chances until the second half.
Dramatic Finish and Disallowed Goal
The decisive moment arrived in the 94th minute when Gonçalo Ramos headed in a cross from Rafael Leão, putting Portugal ahead 2-1. This goal came after Ronaldo had been substituted off in the 81st minute, replaced by Rúben Neves. The substitution left Ronaldo visibly disappointed.
The drama continued as Croatia appeared to have found an equalizer through Josko Gvardiol in the dying moments of the game. However, a VAR review ruled the goal offside due to an earlier touch by a Croatian player, leading to its disallowance. This controversial decision sparked frustration among fans, with objects reportedly thrown onto the field, causing a brief hold-up in play.
Throughout the match, both teams had goals called back for offside. Earlier, Petar Sušić of Croatia had a goal disallowed due to an offside call. Ronaldo also had a near-goal wiped off the board due to an offside call, with VAR showing his shoulder was offside.
The first half of the match was relatively quiet, ending scoreless. Portugal controlled possession and had more shots, but both teams managed only one shot on goal. Cristiano Ronaldo had a quiet first half, with only 17 touches and one shot. Despite his illustrious career, he had not scored a goal in a World Cup knockout game until his penalty in this match.
Modrić’s Final World Cup Appearance
The match also marked what is likely the final World Cup appearance for Croatian legend Luka Modrić. The 40-year-old midfielder, who led Croatia to two top-three finishes in the World Cup, played in his final quadrennial competition. He previously won the Golden Ball in 2018 and the Bronze Ball in 2022.
In other Round of 32 action, Spain secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Austria earlier in the day. Pedro Porro scored in the 66th minute, complemented by a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal. This win marked Spain’s first World Cup knockout round victory since 2010.
The upcoming Round of 16 clash between Portugal and Spain is scheduled for Monday. This highly anticipated match will determine which of the longtime rivals advances to the quarterfinals.
The World Cup Round of 32 continues with Switzerland set to play Algeria. Switzerland has an undefeated record in their last nine matches under manager Murat Yakin, while Algeria has not defeated a European side in the World Cup since 1982.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
