Portugal booked their place in the World Cup last 16 in dramatic fashion on Thursday after substitute Goncalo Ramos struck a stoppage time winner to seal a thrilling victory over Croatia.
The decisive moment came in the fourth minute of added time when Ramos rose to meet a fine delivery from Rafael Leao, guiding home the goal that finally separated both sides after a tense and absorbing contest in Toronto.
Croatia thought they had forced the game back level in the dying moments of extra time when Josko Gvardiol found the net, but their celebrations were cut short after VAR ruled the effort out for offside. The decision left the Croatian players and supporters stunned, with tempers flaring in the closing moments of a match packed with drama.
Portugal had to dig deep for the win after Croatia created much of the danger throughout the encounter, especially in the difficult conditions. Roberto Martinez’s side found themselves under pressure for long spells, but they stayed alive in the contest and took their chance when it mattered most.
Cristiano Ronaldo also had a major part to play in the result, scoring from the penalty spot to cancel out Croatia’s opener. The goal was a landmark one for the Portugal captain, as it marked his first ever strike in the knockout stage of the World Cup and also made him the oldest player to score in that phase of the tournament.
Portugal’s reward is a last 16 showdown with Spain in Dallas on Monday, a fixture that now adds another chapter to Ronaldo’s remarkable international journey.
The match itself carried plenty of emotion and significance. It was the first time two outfield players aged over 40 featured in the same World Cup game, with Ronaldo and Luka Modric both taking centre stage. At the final whistle, the two football icons shared a lengthy exchange, with the defeat likely marking the end of Modric’s World Cup journey.
Portugal’s players also took time after the match to honour late teammate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash a year ago. The squad paid tribute by holding up his number 21 shirt after sealing qualification.
The game burst into life after a quiet first half. Croatia struck first in the 53rd minute when veteran forward Ivan Perisic calmly slotted the ball beneath advancing goalkeeper Diogo Costa to hand his side the lead.
Portugal thought they had found an immediate response when Ronaldo controlled a long pass and finished, but the effort was ruled out for offside. The equaliser eventually came after Renato Veiga was brought down in the area by Nikola Vlasic. Following a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot and Ronaldo stepped up to bury the penalty straight down the middle, celebrating wildly as the Toronto crowd erupted.
Croatia continued to push for another goal in a match that swung from one end to the other. Mateo Kovacic came close when his low effort was brilliantly pushed onto the post by Costa, while Petar Sucic also had the ball in the net only for the assistant referee’s flag to deny him.
Ronaldo was withdrawn in the 81st minute for Ruben Neves, and the packed crowd of 43,000 rose in appreciation as the veteran forward left the pitch, with many unsure whether they had just witnessed his final World Cup appearance.
Even after that, Croatia kept pressing and almost snatched a winner when Mario Pasalic’s header drifted agonisingly wide at the far post. But just when the contest seemed destined for another twist, Portugal found their breakthrough. Ramos connected with Leao’s cross, the ball hit the net, and Portugal’s place in the next round was secured.
Although much of the support inside the stadium leaned towards Portugal, Croatia’s vocal fans made their presence felt throughout, loudly jeering Ronaldo every time he touched the ball.
Ronaldo’s presence in Toronto had already stirred excitement long before kick off. With a large Portuguese community in and around the city, anticipation around the team’s arrival was so intense that hundreds of supporters lined a major highway on Wednesday hoping to catch a glimpse of the Portugal bus, forcing part of the expressway to shut down temporarily.
