Portugal survives chaotic finish to eliminate Croatia at World Cup

Pure chaos.

Portugal and Croatia delivered an all-time World Cup finish Thursday in their last-32 encounter in Toronto, with the Selecao surviving for a 2-1 victory that involved a stoppage-time winner and a VAR check to rule out a would-be Croatian equalizer in the 103rd minute of action.

The breathless match, billed as a “Last Dance” for one of Cristiano Ronaldo or Luka Modric, lived up to the hype, with Ronaldo scoring his first career World Cup knockout goal to help fuel a second-half Portugal comeback.

Goncalo Ramos scored the winning goal in the 94th minute, coming off the bench to deliver a sensational header between two defenders.

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But that was far from the last piece of drama.

Croatia thought it had an incredible equalizer in the 13th minute of stoppage time, but after manic celebrations, the goal was ruled offside following a video review. It was adjudged that striker Igor Matanovic made contact and flicked the ball on toward Mario Pasalic, who was in an offside position on the play. A deflection off Portugal defender Renato Veiga didn’t constitute a “deliberate” attempt to play the ball before it was put home. If it had, the goal would’ve stood and the match likely would’ve gone to extra time.

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FIFA said sensors inside the ball determined that Matanovic did indeed make contact, and that allowed the referee to make the dramatic offside call. Those sensors “are capable of determining any slight contact,” FIFA added.

Portugal will now have to regroup – emotionally and physically – and prepare for a blockbuster last-16 encounter with Spain.

Ivan Perisic had given Croatia the lead early in the second half, but Ronaldo equalized from the penalty spot after previously having a goal of his own called back due to a narrow – although correct – offside decision.

Ronaldo, to the surprise of himself and many others, was then substituted in the 81st minute, and it looked like the fate of his World Cup career would be decided in extra time without his involvement.

But Ramos, often a super-sub at club level with Paris Saint-Germain, played that role to perfection for his country, rising between two Croatian defenders to deliver a pinpoint header that kept Portugal’s tournament alive.

“First half we dominated the game. In the second half after the goal we (started to panic a little bit), but this is football,” Ronaldo told Katie Shanahan of FOX Sports after the match. “After the penalty, I think it was a little bit better for us. We created a few chances and I think, at the end of the day, we deserved to win the match.”

Ronaldo donned a No. 21 Portugal shirt in honor of late teammate Diogo Jota and was visibly emotional while applauding the supporters in Toronto and wearing the commemorative jersey.

The 41-year-old Portugal captain said he and his teammates discussed paying tribute to Jota in the buildup to the match, as it fell almost exactly one year to the day since Jota’s tragic death.

Ronaldo also shared a long embrace with former Real Madrid teammate Modric after the final whistle, calling him a “legend of football.”

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