Portugal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia in a nail-biting encounter, booking their spot in the Euro Round of 16. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonçalo Ramos starred in a match defined by disallowed goals, VAR controversy, and late-game twists.
The football world witnessed one of the most breathtaking matches of the tournament as Portugal edged past Croatia in a thrilling contest. With this hard-fought victory, Portugal has officially qualified for the Round of 16, setting up a blockbuster clash against Spain on Monday, July 7.
A Frustrating First Half for Both Sides
The match began with high intensity, but clear-cut chances were hard to come by. Both teams played defensively, neutralizing each other’s attacks.
During the first 45 minutes and the subsequent stoppage time of the first half, neither side managed to find the back of the net. As the referee blew the half-time whistle with the scoreline locked at 0-0, a sense of frustration was visible among the fans in the stadium, who were desperate for goals.
Second Half: Croatia Breaks the Deadlock
The second half was a completely different story as the tactical shackles were thrown off. Both teams stepped up their attacking intent, but it was Croatia who drew first blood.
In the 53rd minute, Croatia’s relentless pressure paid off. Josip Stanišić delivered a brilliant cross into the box, and Ivan Perišić met it with a precise, low shot to put Croatia 1-0 ahead, sending the Croatian fans into a frenzy.
The Attack and Disallowed Goals Drama
Going a goal down awaked the Portuguese attack. Portugal pushed forward with high intensity, desperate to find an equalizer. However, Croatia remained dangerous on the counter-attack. In the 56th minute, Croatia put the ball into the net for a second time, but the goal was quickly ruled out for offside.
Just five minutes later, in the 61st minute, it was Portugal’s turn to face heartbreak. Cristiano Ronaldo found the back of the net, but after a quick check, it was disallowed for a marginal offside. The disallowed goal left Portuguese supporters heavily disappointed.
Ronaldo Equalizes from the Spot via VAR
Portugal’s persistence finally paid off in the 64th minute when the referee was called to the VAR monitor. Replays showed a Croatian defender pulling Renato Veiga’s jersey inside the penalty box, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot.
In the 68th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up under immense pressure and calmly struck the ball straight down the middle into the back of the net, equalizing the score at 1-1.
More Offside Heartbreak and Ronaldo’s Substitution
The drama intensified in the 80th minute when Croatia scored what they thought was the winning goal. Once again, the linesman’s flag went up for offside, cutting their celebrations short.
Tactical drama followed in the 81st minute when Portugal coach Roberto Martínez made the bold decision to substitute Cristiano Ronaldo. As he walked off the pitch, disappointment was clearly visible on Ronaldo’s face, a sentiment shared by thousands of fans in the stands.
10 Minutes of Stoppage Time: Pure Chaos and Ramos’ Winner
With the match tied at 1-1, the fourth official signaled a massive 10 minutes of extra stoppage time. The late drama started almost immediately.
In the 94th minute, Rafael Leão delivered a magnificent cross into the penalty area. Substitute Gonçalo Ramos rose highest to power home a brilliant header, making it 2-1 for Portugal. It seemed like Portugal had sealed the victory.
Final VAR Twist Saves Portugal
However, the match had one final, unbelievable twist. In the 113th minute, Joško Gvardiol found the net for Croatia, making the scoreline 2-2. The Croatian bench erupted in wild celebrations while the Portuguese camp looked devastated.
But the drama wasn’t over. The referee paused the game to consult the VAR monitor. After a lengthy review, it was revealed that Mario Pašalić was offside at the build-up of the attack. The referee disallowed the goal, shattering Croatia’s dreams in the cruelest way possible.
Full-Time: Portugal Celebrates Round of 16
Shortly after, the final whistle blew, confirming Portugal’s dramatic victory. As the Portuguese players celebrated their ticket to the Round of 16, Cristiano Ronaldo paid a special tribute to his former national team teammate by celebrating the win while holding the iconic number 21 jersey.
Portugal now shifts its focus to Monday, July 7, where a titanic battle against Spain awaits them in the knockout stage.