NEWS
VAR Drama in Stoppage Time! But Portugal Eliminates Croatia
Cristiano Ronaldo scores for the first time in a knockout round – when Croatia's supposed equalizer is scored in stoppage time, he is no longer on the pitch.
In the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Portugal defeats Croatia 2-1.
No goals are scored in the first half; although both the Croatians and the Portuguese create several chances, they initially fail to convert.
Renato Veiga has the biggest chance of the first half in the 16th minute. The Portuguese player gets a completely free header after a corner kick, but puts the ball over Livakovic's goal.
Croatia More Active in the Second Half.
The second half develops into an open, back-and-forth battle.
In the 53rd minute, Ivan Perisic gives Croatia a 1-0 lead. The Portuguese fail to properly defend a cross from Josip Stanisic, and the ball lands at Perisic's feet, leaving him with a simple tap-in.
Subsequently, Igor Matanovic, who was substituted in at halftime, scores what appears to be Croatia's second goal, but assist-provider Vlasic is offside (56th).
CR7 Scores for First Time in Knockout Round
Cristiano Ronaldo also gets to celebrate. Ronaldo elegantly plucks a long ball out of the air with his instep and pokes the ball past Livakovic, but Ronaldo is offside.
A few minutes later, it finally happens: During a corner kick, Vlasic clings to his opponent and brings him down. The resulting penalty is a job for the main man.
CR7 places the ball and confidently converts it into the center (68th minute), scoring for the first time in a knockout game.
Dramatic Stoppage Time
In the 80th minute, it's the Croatians celebrating again. Petar Sucic is sent through and can beat Diogo Costa in a one-on-one, but Sucic also starts from an offside position.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Rafael Leao assists the substituted Goncalo Ramos. The striker wins the aerial duel and nets the 2-1.
In stoppage time, the Croatians actually score a 2-2 equalizer in the 13th minute of stoppage time. However, Pasalic was clearly offside just before Gvardiol's supposed equalizer and, according to the TV images, did not touch the ball but actively intervened in the play. Thus, the goal is disallowed, and the score remains 2-1 for Portugal.
With this victory, Portugal will face Austria's conqueror Spain in the Round of 16. (>>>>click here for the tournament tree)
