Portugal Beat Croatia 2-1 in Stunning Comeback — Ramos Nets 94th-Minute Winner, Ronaldo Scores First-Ever Knockout Goal

Portugal battled back to defeat Croatia 2-1 in the round of 32 at BMO Field in Toronto, setting up a last-16 clash with Spain.

Portugal had finished second in Group K with one win and two draws, while Croatia advanced from Group L in second place after two wins and a loss.

The first half ended goalless, with neither side able to break through. The match came alive after the break: Ivan Perišić put Croatia ahead in the 53rd minute, finishing a low left-footed shot from a cross by Josip Stanišić. Cristiano Ronaldo leveled for Portugal from the penalty spot in the 64th minute, after Marko Vlašić was penalized for pulling down Vitinha in the box — a call confirmed by VAR review. Then, deep into stoppage time, substitute Gonçalo Ramos headed home the winner in the 94th minute off a right-footed cross from Rafael Leão, sending Portugal through 2-1.

Croatia thought they had snatched a last-gasp equalizer when Josko Gvardiol scored in the 13th minute of stoppage time, but after a VAR review the goal was ruled out for offside.

Notable moments:
Before kickoff, 41-year-old Ronaldo shared an embrace with longtime rival and former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modrić, 40, during the handshake line.

Portugal created several early chances: in the 4th minute Nuno Mendes played in Leão, whose cutback led to a save from Dominik Livaković off Bruno Fernandes, with the follow-up blocked. In the 13th minute, a direct free-kick from Ronaldo struck Josip Pongračić, forcing him to the ground in pain.

In the 21st minute, Portuguese fans rose to their feet to pay tribute to Diogo Jota, marking one year since his death.

Croatia had a goal disallowed for offside in the 56th minute (Marko Matanović) and again in the 80th minute (Petar Sučić), while Kovačić hit the post and forced a save in the 75th minute. Leão also struck the crossbar in the 58th minute. A Ronaldo "goal" — a chip finish after being played through by Bruno Fernandes in the 61st minute — was also ruled out for offside following VAR review.

Ronaldo, who was substituted off in the 81st minute, scored his first-ever World Cup knockout-stage goal. Across five previous World Cups and eight knockout matches, he had never previously scored or provided an assist at this stage of the tournament.


Portugal starting XI: D. Costa; R. Dias, Vega, Cancelo, N. Mendes; B. Fernandes, J. Neves, Vitinha; Leão, P. Neto, C. Ronaldo
Portugal substitutes: José Sá, R. Silva, Semedo, Araújo, Dalot, Inácio, S. Costa, Nunes, B. Silva, R. Neves, G. Ramos, Félix, Trincão, Guedes, Conceição
Croatia starting XI: Livaković; Stanišić, Pongračić, Šutalo; Kovačić, Modrić, Vlašić, Baturina, P. Sučić; Budimir, Perišić
Croatia substitutes: Pandur, Kotarski, Gvardiol, Čaleta-Car, Vušković, Erlić, Moro, Pašalić, Jakić, Fruk, L. Sučić, Kramarić, Matanović, M. Pašalić, Musa