Portugal survives late drama to edge past Croatia

TORONTO — Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first World Cup knockout-stage goal of his career, Goncalo Ramos netted a stoppage-time header and Portugal got a lucky last-second break on a VAR offside call to beat Croatia 2-1 on Thursday and set up a last-16 clash with Spain.

Croatia looked to have equalized at the end, leaving Ronaldo crestfallen on the bench, but the last-gasp effort was ruled offside after a VAR review, prompting the team's supporters in the south end of Toronto Stadium to shower the pitch with debris.

"It's difficult, because it's a game that, if you don't win, you go home," said Ramos. "But for me, especially, I love those types of moments, I love those types of games, I want to play every game like that, I want to be in the big moment."

It was Josko Gvardiol who thought he had equalized for Croatia in the 103rd minute, but a review showed the ball had touched Igor Matanovic on the way through the crowd, putting Croatian midfielder Mario Pasalic, who fed the scoring pass to Gvardiol, offside.

It left the Croatian contingent in the stands crestfallen.

Ivan Perisic had put Croatia in front when he brought down a pass from Josip Stanisic and coolly fired home at the far post in the 53rd minute, opening up the game considerably.

Then, the 41-year-old Ronaldo became the oldest player to score in the knockout stage of a World Cup when he fired home from the spot to draw Portugal level in the 68th minute, before substitute Ramos rose above the Croatian defense in the fourth minute of stoppage time to snag what would be the winning goal.

VAR 'takes joy' from game

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic, though said afterward that VAR is taking "the joy out of football" after seeing the stoppage-time equalizer disallowed.

Asked afterwards if he felt technology and VAR decisions in soccer had gone too far, Dalic broadly agreed.

"You were able to see to what extent emotions have been literally killed, and altogether, these decisions take you back and actually take the joy out of football," Dalic said at a news conference.

"I'm not saying that sometimes VAR can't be of help, but it kills the emotions, it kills everything within you, it kills what you are experiencing, and it's not easy to deal with all of this."

The "connected ball" chip technology used to rule out Gvardiol's goal had already been deployed at this World Cup during Sweden's group game with Tunisia last month.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said there was no debate around Croatia's disallowed goal.

"The message is very clear: The balls now, they have a chip, and it's very clear, and that's why the VAR intervened," Martinez said.

"There is no subjective opinion — the chip of the ball shows there is a touch from Matanovic, and that when it happens, Pasalic is offside.

"It's a shame that one of the teams had to lose today, but there was no bad decision, no unlucky call today, it was clear-cut and technology helped. We were fortunate with a moment, but it was a clear moment."

Modric lauded

Dalic and Martinez paid tribute on Thursday to Croatia's veteran midfielder Luka Modric, who has almost certainly played his last World Cup match.

After the gut-wrenching 2-1 loss, Modric, 40, shared a long exchange with 41-year-old Ronaldo — two greats nearing the end of their international playing careers, and former Real Madrid teammates who won four Champions Leagues in six seasons together.

"This was probably his last World Cup, and I'm sorry that it ended this way," said an emotional Dalic. "He has shown his quality and his character, and, of course, he was leading Croatia until the very end."

Martinez lauded the Croatian great for having "inspired millions of kids".

"His example is going to stay in the folklore of football forever," the Portugal coach told reporters, highlighting Modric's soccer IQ.

"It's not often that we talk about that player that can put his foot on the ball and make a decision. I think Modric is a beautiful example of that," Martinez said. "Depending on how the game goes, he finds the space, he makes the right call. It's incredible to see him play."

The AC Milan midfielder marked his 200th international appearance in a group-stage match last month, and was hoisted in the air by his teammates following that June 23 victory over Panama.

Portugal next faces Spain on Monday in Dallas, with the winner moving on to play either Belgium or the United States in the quarterfinals in Los Angeles on July 10.

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