Portugal 2 x 1 Croatia: see the best moments from the World Cup game
Portugal beat Croatia 2-1, this Thursday (2), at BMO Field, in Toronto, Canada, in a duel valid for the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.
The Portuguese classification was decided in second half stoppage time, with a header from Gonçalo Ramos, who came on during the match and decided the score in favor of the Portuguese.
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Croatia were the ones who opened the scoring, seven minutes into the second half, with Ivan Perisic, who dominated behind João Cancelo after Josip Stanisic's cross from the right and finished left-handed past Diogo Costa.
Portugal responded in the same stage, in the 22nd minute, with a penalty converted by Cristiano Ronaldo after a VAR review, which identified a tug by Nikola Vlasic on Renato Veiga inside the area.
The Portuguese captain hit the ball with his right foot in the middle of the goal, with no chance for Dominik Livakovic, restoring equality on the scoreboard.
The second half was marked by controversial moves and a lot of movement: a goal by Cristiano Ronaldo was canceled for offside confirmed by VAR, as well as a goal by Croatia, by Ante Budimir, and another possible goal by the Croatians by Mario Pasalic were also canceled due to irregularities detected by technology.
The outcome came in the 47th minute of the second half, when Rafael Leão crossed from the left to the second post and Gonçalo Ramos headed it into the back of the net, declaring the Portuguese comeback.
In stoppage time, Croatia saw another goal disallowed by VAR due to Pasalic being offside at the origin of the play, ending any hope of a reaction.
Diogo Costa was decisive under the Portuguese goals, making four difficult saves throughout the match, including a beautiful intervention on Mateo Kovacic at the start of the second half.
With the elimination, Croatia ends its participation in the World Cup in the round of 16 stage, having gained six points in the group stage after two wins and one defeat in group L.
Portugal, which had advanced with five points in second place in group K, continues in the competition and faces Spain in the round of 16, a team that eliminated Austria 3-0 this Thursday.
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Source: CNN