Portugal 2-1 Croatia: Gonçalo Ramos header in stoppage time sends Ronaldo's side into the last 16
Portugal survived a scare from a resilient Croatia side to reach the World Cup Round of 16, coming from behind with a stoppage-time winner at Toronto Stadium. Croatia broke the deadlock in the second half when Ivan Perišić was picked out at the far post by a Josip Stanišić cross and finished clinically to put the underdogs ahead.
Cristiano Ronaldo dragged Portugal level from the penalty spot after the ball was won in the Croatia box, converting to record his first-ever World Cup knockout-stage goal and becoming the oldest player to score in the tournament's knockout phase. The game swung back and forth as Croatia had further efforts chalked off for offside during the second half, keeping the scoreline level deep into stoppage time.
With the match seemingly heading to extra time, substitute Gonçalo Ramos rose to head home a Rafael Leão cross in the fourth minute of stoppage time to snatch the win for Portugal. Croatia thought they had salvaged a dramatic equalizer moments later through Josko Gvardiol, but the goal was ruled out by VAR for an offside earlier in the buildup, confirming Portugal's progress to a Round of 16 meeting with Spain and ending Croatia's tournament.
Key moments
- •Ivan Perišić gave Croatia the lead after being found unmarked at the far post by a Josip Stanišić cross
- •Cristiano Ronaldo equalized from the penalty spot, scoring his first-ever World Cup knockout-stage goal
- •Substitute Gonçalo Ramos headed in a Rafael Leão cross in the fourth minute of stoppage time to win it for Portugal
- •Croatia had a stoppage-time equalizer from Joško Gvardiol ruled out by VAR for offside
- •Portugal advance to face Spain in the Round of 16; Croatia are eliminated
Timeline
Match facts
- Toronto Stadium (BMO Field)
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- Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway)
Match report generated from publicly available sources. Facts are drawn from the sources below.