Snickometer disallows Croatia's 103rd-minute equaliser as Portugal survive World Cup chaos
A 103rd-minute goal was ruled out by ball-chip technology after a record four efforts were disallowed, sending Portugal to the last 16 and ending Luka Modric's World Cup career.
Match summary
Portugal edged Croatia 2-1 in a round-of-32 match at Toronto's BMO Field that lurched from one VAR intervention to the next. Ivan Perisic gave Croatia the lead in the 53rd minute, Cristiano Ronaldo equalised from the penalty spot after a VAR review, and substitute Gonçalo Ramos headed the winner in the 94th minute. Croatia thought they had forced extra time when Josko Gvardiol turned in a cross in the 13th minute of stoppage time, but the goal was overturned after a lengthy check.
Four goals chalked off
For the first time in World Cup history, four goals were disallowed in a single match. Croatia saw efforts by Igor Matanovic (56th minute), Luka Sucic (80th) and Gvardiol (103rd) ruled out, while Ronaldo had a first-half finish overturned for offside. The sequence left both benches exhausted and the crowd in a state of disbelief.
The Snickometer call
The decisive moment hinged on whether Matanovic had flicked the ball with his head as a cross entered the box. Replays were inconclusive, but a chip inside the match ball, described as a cricket-style Snickometer, registered a faint touch. That made Mario Pasalic offside when he received the ball and squared for Gvardiol. Referee Espen Eskås reviewed the monitor, an unusual step for an offside decision, and disallowed the goal. Former Premier League official Darren Cann told the BBC the technology "100 percent proves that he touched it with the flick-on."
- 53rd minute: Ivan Perisic scores to give Croatia a 1-0 lead.
- 56th minute: Igor Matanovic's goal disallowed for offside.
- 80th minute: Luka Sucic's finish ruled out for offside, Croatia's third disallowed goal.
- 90+4th minute: Gonçalo Ramos heads Portugal into a 2-1 lead.
- 90+13th minute: Josko Gvardiol's equaliser disallowed after Snickometer detects Matanovic touch.
Reactions
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic did not hide his frustration.
Portugal's Roberto Martínez defended the system.We thought we had scored, we were happy and then VAR intervened. We have seen how much VAR kills emotions and takes all the joy out of football. It is not easy to handle. We have gone too far with video assistance.
Croatia fans hurled plastic bottles onto the pitch, forcing a delay before the final whistle.The balls now have a chip in them, and it is clear why VAR intervened. The decisions were all correct today. It is a shame that one of the two teams had to lose but there was no bad decision or lucky call.
Icons at the crossroads
Ronaldo, at 41, became the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout match and later wore a No 21 shirt in tribute to his former teammate Diogo Jota, who died a year ago. Modric, 40, left the field in tears, his international career almost certainly over. Dalic said of his captain,
Portugal will face Spain in the last 16.This was probably his last World Cup and I am sorry it ended this way. Luka was one of our key players today. He has shown his quality and his character once again.
