Online Reporter
PORTUGAL battled into the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup with a drama-filled 2-1 victory over Croatia yesterday to set up a titanic showdown with European champions Spain.
In another nerve-shredding World Cup classic, Goncalo Ramos headed Portugal into the lead in the fourth minute of stoppage-time before Croatia saw a last-gasp equaliser agonisingly ruled out for off-side in Toronto.
Portugal’s 41-year-old superstar captain Cristiano Ronaldo had helped haul his team back into the contest, burying a 68th-minute penalty to cancel out Croatia’s 53rd-minute opener from Ivan Perisic.
Ronaldo later joined frenzied celebrations after Ramos glanced home a sensational header deep into injury-time to give Portugal the lead.
But Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates were left stunned when Josko Gvardiol prodded home an apparent equaliser in stoppage-time.
Yet there was one final twist when the goal was chalked off for off-side after a lengthy VAR review to the disbelief of Croatia’s players and their large contingent of fans at Toronto’s BMO Field. – AFP Sport.
