World Cup: Portugal set to face neighbors Spain after dramatic win over Croatia
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Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonçalo Ramos secured a comeback victory for Portugal as they booked their place in the Round of 16 at Croatia’s expense. The game came to life in the second-half after a cagey first 45 minutes.
Former Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg attacker Ivan Perišić continued to play full-back for Croatia, but he did get the first goal of the game less than ten minutes after the restart. Half-time substitute Igor Matanović, who reached the Europa League final with SC Freiburg, made an instant impact for Zlatko Dalić’s side.
Cristiano Ronaldo was denied a first-ever knockout stage goal for a tight offside before converting a penalty-kick won by former Augsburg loanee Rentao Veiga eight minutes later. Both sides hit the woodwork before it was Croatia’s turn to be denied by VAR when Luka Sučić thought he restored their lead.
The decider came in the fourth minute of injury-time as Rafael Leao’s cross met a powerful header by Ramos, who is rumored to join AC Milan for a record transfer sum by the Rossoneri. But that was not the end of the second-half drama as former RB Leipzig defender Joško Gvardiol’s 113th-minute strike was also canceled by VAR.
Croatia are knocked out of the World Cup in the first knockout round after reaching the semi-finals in 2018 and 2022. Portugal will face Spain in one of the most-anticipated games of the Round of 16.
