- Full Time
- 90 + 15'J. Gvardiol Goal disallowed
- 90 + 8'
- 90 + 6'A. Kramarić on for M. Kovačić
- 90 + 4'
- 90 + 2'J. Gvardiol on for N. Vlašić
- Rúben Neves on for Cristiano Ronaldo81'
- 68'Mario Pašalić on for M. Baturina
- 68'
- Renato Veiga Penalty awarded65'
- Gonçalo Ramos on for João Cancelo63'
- Nélson Semedo on for Bruno Fernandes63'
- Francisco Conceição on for Pedro Neto63'
- Bernardo Silva on for Vitinha62'
- 59'
- 53'
- 46'I. Matanović on for A. Budimir
- Half Time
- 17'
- Kick Off
-
1 Ivan Perisic 1
- 2 Gonçalo Ramos 1
- 3 Cristiano Ronaldo 1
- 1 Igor Matanovic 3
- 2 Mateo Kovacic 3
- 3 Rafael Leão 2
- 1 João Neves 3
- 2 Josip Sutalo 2
- 3 João Cancelo 2
- 1 Rafael Leão 1
- 1 Nuno Mendes 4
- 2 Rafael Leão 2
- 3 Petar Sucic 2
- 1 Rúben Dias 87
- 2 Vitinha 70
- 3 Renato Veiga 65
- 1 Nuno Mendes 3
- 2 Rafael Leão 2
- 3 João Cancelo 2
- 1 Josip Sutalo 2
- 2 Rúben Dias 2
- 3 Rafael Leão 1
Goncalo Ramos’ injury-time winner sent Portugal through to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup at the expense of a gutsy Croatia.
Vatreni had taken the lead through Ivan Perisic but a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty and that Ramos header turned the game on it’s head before late VAR drama saw a potential Croatian equaliser ruled out for offside.
Portugal started the better of the two teams and the first chance fell to Bruno Fernandes, who was played in by the energetic Rafael Leao’s low cross from the left. The Manchester United man’s first-time effort was well stopped by Dominik Livakovic and Leao’s shot on the rebound was well-blocked.
The Selecao continued probing without creating any real openings. Renato Veiga had a header from close range that flew over the bar and two crosses from the right had side from Joao Cancelo and Pedro Neto didn’t quite find Cristiano Ronaldo.
After a pedestrian first period, we were treated to a breathless second half.
Despite having very little of the play in the first half, it was Croatia who took the lead at the start of the second. A Josip Stanisic cross was too high for Igor Matanovic but landed at the feet of Ivan Perisic who used all of his experience to slam home through the legs of Diogo Costa.
Portugal got the shot in the arm they needed from that goal and the game burst into life. Leao came close with a stunning right-footed curling effort that smashed against the crossbar and Croatia almost immediately scored themselves on the counter-attack only for Petar Sucic’s shot to be well saved by Costa.
Ronaldo briefly thought he’d got Portugal level as he brilliantly latched onto a cross-field pass from Joao Cancelo and lobbed the ball delicately over Livakovic. Unfortunately for the 41 year old however, he had just strayed offside.
His wait for a goal didn’t go on much longer though. Leao volleyed an effort wide from a corner but in the melee from said corner, Renato Veiga was brought down by Nikola Vlasic and a penalty was awarded to Portugal. Ronaldo made no mistake for 1-1.
Vatreni attempted to get themselves back in front and Mateo Kovacic was desperately unfortunate not to do so as he drew a magnificent fingertip save onto the post from Costa, who then had to push another follow-up effort from the Manchester City man over the bar.
Croatia were now having the better of the game again. Matanovic was the next to test Costa with a close-range effort while Sucic had a goal ruled out for offside, then set-up a fine chance for Mario Pasalic with a searching cross but the substitute could only head wide.
And yet against the run of play, it was Portugal who went ahead in injury-time. A peach of a cross from Leao found Goncalo Ramos who rose brilliantly and glanced his header into the bottom corner.
But the drama wasn’t quite over there. When Josko Gvardiol pounced on the loose ball that popped up off the thigh of Mario Pasalic to bundle home what seemed like an equaliser, the Croatian fans were sent into raptures.
However, the VAR determined that Pasalic was in an offside position and that striker Tabanovic had got a touch on the cross, meaning the goal was chalked off in highly controversial circumstances to send the Seleccao through.
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