Ramos Strikes Late as Portugal Beat Croatia 2-1 to Reach World Cup Last 16

Goncalo Ramos headed home a 94th-minute winner to send Portugal through to the World Cup last 16 with a 2-1 victory over Croatia in Toronto, in a match that ended in chaos and controversy.

Croatia thought they had equalised in the 103rd minute when Josko Gvardiol bundled the ball home, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside. Replays showed Igor Matanovic had made the slightest of touches on the cross before it fell to Mario Pasalic, who was in an offside position, ahead of Gvardiol's finish. Croatia fans threw bottles onto the pitch in protest as Portugal celebrated.

The decisive moment had come minutes earlier when Ramos, introduced as a substitute in the second half, rose above two Croatian defenders to head in from Rafael Leao's superb cross. It was a stunning end to a match that had swung both ways throughout.

Croatia had taken the lead on 53 minutes when Ivan Perisic rifled a shot into the corner after Ruben Dias could only half-clear a cross to the back post. Portugal hit back when VAR spotted a foul on Renato Veiga at a corner and Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to convert from the spot in the 68th minute, his first ever goal in a World Cup knockout match.

Ronaldo had earlier seen a dinked finish ruled out for a marginal offside, and was substituted in the 81st minute, shortly before Ramos won it.

The match was full of near misses and VAR drama throughout. Croatia had a second goal ruled out for offside not long after taking the lead, Leao struck the crossbar with a curling effort, and Mateo Kovacic forced Diogo Costa into two quick saves before Petar Sucic had a cool finish disallowed for offside.

Portugal dominated possession with 62% of the ball and completed 542 passes at 92% accuracy, controlling the tempo for much of the game. However, Croatia were the more threatening side in attack, registering 7 shots on target from 13 attempts compared to Portugal's 3 from 15, with Luka Modric's side consistently testing Costa and creating clearer openings. Portugal's clinical edge proved decisive in the end, scoring twice from just three attempts on target.

Portugal will now face European champions Spain in Dallas on Monday 6 July, in what promises to be one of the ties of the round. 

For Croatia and their captain Luka Modric, it is the end of the road after fifth World Cup campaigns that included a final in 2018 and a third-place finish in 2022.