Portugal kept their World Cup dream alive on Thursday night with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia in Toronto. It was a match full of twists, near misses, and last-gasp heroics. Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot to equalise, and substitute Gonçalo Ramos headed in a stoppage-time winner to send Portugal into the Round of 16. Croatia were left heartbroken after playing well for large parts of the game, only to be undone in the final minutes.
Croatia Strike First Through Perisic
The match started slowly but burst to life in the second half. Croatia’s veteran winger Ivan Perišić broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, slipping the ball under Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa to give Croatia the lead. Portugal tried to respond quickly. Ronaldo thought he had equalised moments later, controlling a long pass and finishing well, but the assistant referee’s flag went up for offside and the goal was disallowed. Portugal were frustrated but kept pushing forward. If you are watching the World Cup from home or abroad and need to keep your phone topped up for live alerts, take a moment to check your account — a quick FAB Balance Check online takes just seconds and keeps your banking sorted without a branch visit.
VAR Steps In — Ronaldo Makes History From the Spot
Portugal’s lifeline came when Croatia’s Nikola Vlašić pulled down Renato Veiga inside the penalty area. After a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Cristiano Ronaldo, cool as ever, striking the ball straight down the middle to level the score at 1-1. The goal was historic. It was Ronaldo’s first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match — a milestone that had eluded him throughout his entire career despite appearing in five previous World Cups. He celebrated with clenched fists, and the crowd inside BMO Field in Toronto roared. Portugal were back in the game.
Croatia Push Hard but Chances Go Begging
Rather than sitting back after the equaliser, Croatia pushed hard for a winner. Mateo Kovačić sent a low drive that was tipped onto the post by Costa. Petar Sučić thought he had scored only for the offside flag to deny him once more. Mario Pašalić then came agonisingly close with a far-post header that drifted just wide of the target. Croatia were playing well and creating chances, but the ball simply would not go in. Portugal rode their luck in this period and needed Costa to be sharp to keep them level. Ronaldo was substituted off in the 81st minute for Rúben Neves, with the match still on a knife’s edge. If you are an Etisalat user and want to stay connected for every World Cup update without running out of credit at a crucial moment, it is worth knowing How to Check Balance in Etisalat quickly from your phone.
Ramos Breaks Croatian Hearts in Stoppage Time
Just when it looked like the match was heading into extra time, Portugal struck. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Rafael Leão delivered a pinpoint cross from the left. Substitute Gonçalo Ramos met it perfectly, powering his header into the net to make it 2-1. The Portugal bench erupted. Croatia were stunned. They thought they had an immediate answer when Joško Gvardiol put the ball in the net moments later, but the offside flag went up and the goal was ruled out. The final whistle confirmed it — Portugal were through and Croatia were out of the World Cup in dramatic fashion.
What’s Next for Portugal?
Portugal now advance to the Round of 16, where they will face Spain in Dallas on Monday. It is a blockbuster matchup between two of Europe’s biggest football nations. Spain topped Group H without conceding a single goal, so Portugal will need to be at their very best to advance further. For Ronaldo, at 41 years old and playing in his sixth World Cup, every match could be his last on the biggest stage. He will be determined to go as far as possible. Croatia, meanwhile, go home after a heartbreaking exit, with Luka Modric ending what is likely his final World Cup campaign without the fairytale finish he deserved. During big tournaments like this, scam calls also increase as fraudsters target distracted fans with fake prize or offer calls — stay safe by using the Who Called Me From This Number UAE tool to identify any unknown number before calling back.
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