Credited from: CHANNELNEWSASIA
Portugal triumphed over Croatia with a dramatic 2-1 victory, propelling them into the last 16 of the World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a crucial penalty to level the match before Goncalo Ramos netted a last-gasp header, capitalizing on a superb pass from Rafael Leao in the fourth minute of stoppage time. This win prevents Croatia from equalizing after Josko Gvardiol's last-minute goal was ruled offside following a VAR review, leaving their fans stunned and inciting unrest in the stands, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.
Ronaldo's penalty marked his first-ever goal during the knockout stage of the World Cup, earning him the title of the oldest player to score in this phase of the tournament. He netted the equalizer in the 68th minute after Renato Veiga was fouled in the box, demonstrating a composed finish to draw Portugal back into the game, as noted by Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
In a match that saw Croatia initially take the lead with Ivan Perisic's goal in the 53rd minute, the game featured numerous chances from both sides. Despite Croatia creating a significant number of opportunities, including a near miss by Mario Pasalic, it was Ramos’ late heroics that ensured Portugal’s advancement, according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.
The match concluded with Ronaldo being substituted in the 81st minute, receiving a warm ovation from the crowd, while Portugal looks ahead to a challenging encounter against Spain in the next stage of the tournament, mentioned by Reuters and Al Jazeera.