A dramatic stoppage time header from substitute Goncalo Ramos led Portugal to a thrilling 2-1 win over Croatia at Toronto Stadium on Friday. The high-octane win secured Portugal’s place in the round of 16, setting up a huge Iberian derby against neighbors Spain on Monday.The high-stakes encounter ended in great controversy. Trailing 2-1 deep into stoppage time, Croatia thought they had forced extra time on the last kick of the game. However, the video assistant referee (VAR) intervened after a longer review and ruled Mario Pašalić offside. The decision caused violent protests by Croatian fans who threw bottles onto the field and whistled loudly.Earlier, Croatia broke the tie in the 53rd minute when defender Josip Stanišić executed a precise cross from the right flank, allowing veteran winger Ivan Perišić to beat Portuguese keeper Diogo Costa. After the goal, Portugal’s World Cup dreams appeared to be in serious jeopardy.However, the 2016 European champions fought back tenaciously to earn a crucial penalty. portuguese talisman Cristiano Ronaldo He stepped up in the 68th minute and coolly converted from the spot to equalize at 1-1. With this clinical shot, the 41-year-old maestro made history by becoming the oldest scorer in history FIFA World Cup. Interestingly, it also marked Ronaldo’s first goal in the knockout stages of the tournament.Feeling the need for fresh energy, Portuguese coach Roberto Martínez took a bold tactical gamble by replacing Ronaldo in the 82nd minute. The move paid off in the 94th minute when winger Rafael Leão sent a beautiful cross into the penalty area. The alert Ramos perfectly anticipated the delivery, beating Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković with a powerful downward header to seal the win.The defeat marks a heartbreaking end to Luka Modrić’s iconic international career. The 40-year-old midfield maestro, who famously led his country to runners-up in 2018 and third place in 2022, failed to pull off one last miracle in his fifth and final World Cup campaign. Portugal will now face a formidable Spain side in what promises to be an engrossing clash ahead of the quarter-finals.
