Portugal survive Croatia scare after VAR and chip technology rule out 113th-minute equaliser
A stoppage-time goal by Gonçalo Ramos sent Portugal into the World Cup last 16, but only after a Croatian equaliser in the 13th minute of added time was disallowed for offside, confirmed by a chip inside the ball.
Ronaldo's future in the spotlight
Before kick-off in Toronto, Cristiano Ronaldo's sister Katia Aveiro told Portuguese television that the tournament would be his "last dance" for the national team. The claim stirred immediate speculation, but after the match the 41-year-old captain denied any decision had been made.
I don't make hasty decisions. I will decide after the tournament, not now.
Match swings from dull to dramatic
A goalless first half gave way to a frantic second. Ivan Perišić put Croatia ahead in the 53rd minute, only for Ronaldo to level from the penalty spot in the 68th after Nikola Vlasić fouled Renato Veiga. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez then surprised everyone by substituting Ronaldo in the 81st minute, a move the forward appeared not to expect. The winner came in the fourth minute of added time when Rafael Leão crossed for Gonçalo Ramos to head past Dominik Livaković.
VAR and chip technology decide the outcome
Croatia thought they had forced extra time in the 13th minute of stoppage time. Ivan Perišić's cross was flicked on by Igor Matanović, reached Mario Pašalić, and was turned in by Joško Gvardiol. Referee Espen Eskas was called to the monitor and disallowed the goal, ruling that Pašalić was offside after Matanović's touch. A sensor inside the ball, transmitting data 500 times per second, confirmed the contact.
I think I felt a light contact with my hair. Then I asked the referee, because I wasn't completely sure. He said there's a chip in the ball and it was offside.
When you disallow a goal in the last seconds of a World Cup match, it must be an obvious decision. For me, it wasn't. Football can be incredibly cruel.
The total added time in the second half reached 19 minutes, partly because Croatian fans threw bottles onto the pitch after the VAR review.
What's next
Portugal advance to a round-of-16 meeting with Spain. Croatia, bronze medallists in 2022, exit the tournament without a medal for the first time after reaching the knockout stage.
