Rafael Leão dropped to his knees. His cross had just been flicked into the net by Gonçalo Ramos to take Portugal to the last 16 of the World Cup, but his expression was not one of delight – it was relief.
The winning goal, scored in added time, capped a wild finish at Toronto Stadium that saw four disallowed goals – a first in World Cup history – including one that denied Croatia an equaliser in the very last second. The match was billed as the last dance for two footballing icons, and it was Luka Modrić, at 40, who had to leave what will surely be his final World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, plays on. He scored his first ever World Cup knockout goal at the grand old age of 41, was substituted, and was bewilderingly named player of the match despite not being the most influential player on show.
“Gonçalo Ramos scores added-time winner as Portugal beat Croatia in a match with four disallowed goals.”
After a sweltering day in Toronto, the evening brought welcome cool and the atmosphere inside the stadium was voluble throughout. Portugal dominated the first half and should have taken a lead into the break. Their first chance came eight minutes in when Leão barrelled down the left and cut back low to Bruno Fernandes, who got off two shots: the first saved well by Dominik Livaković, the second blocked by an onrushing defence.
Pedro Neto was Portugal’s most persistent threat in the opening period, dominant in his duel with Ivan Perišić, who was again playing full-back. Neto created enough space to send a succession of whipped crosses into the box, every one tempting and unsuccessful. Livaković came out for one and missed, but the ball eluded Ronaldo. Another cross on the half hour had both Ronaldo and Fernandes stretching at the far post, but they were just too late to make contact.
Croatia would have been happy with how the first half panned out. They were on the back foot but not uncertain. They stood up confidently to the waves of attacks, were robust in the middle of the park, and had a plan to isolate Martin Baturina against João Cancelo while whipping balls into the box for the hulking Ante Budimir.
The match swung first one way then the other then back again. Ronaldo scored his knockout goal, but it was Ramos who secured the win. Leão’s cross was flicked in by the deputy, sparking scenes of relief rather than pure joy. Croatia pushed for an equaliser in stoppage time, but VAR intervened to disallow a goal, the fourth of the night. Portugal held on to advance.