Ramos stoppage time winner sends Portugal past Croatia into last 16

Goncalo Ramos grabbed a 94th-minute winner after Cristiano Ronaldo had scored his first goal in a World Cup knockout stage as Portugal came from behind to beat Croatia and progress to the last 16 at BMO Field in Toronto

Second-half substitute Ramos rose above two Croatia defenders to head in from a superb Rafael Leao cross as a pulsating match looked to be heading for extra-time.

In the last 16 Portugal will face European champions Spain at Dallas Stadium, Texas, on Monday 6 July

The first half started at a lively tempo, with both Portugal and Croatia enjoying spells of possession before Roberto Martinez's men gradually took control, dominating the contest but failing to find a breakthrough against a resilient Croatian defence.

Croatia registered the first effort on target in the third minute when Ivan Perisic tested Diogo Costa with a tame strike, but Portugal responded two minutes later through Bruno Fernandes.

Set up by Rafael Leao, Fernandes forced Dominik Livakovic into a smart save before Croatia's defence reacted quickly to clear the rebound.

Portugal continued to threaten down the left through the lively Leao, whose pace and direct running caused problems throughout the opening exchanges.

By the 14th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo had his first sight of goal from a free-kick after Nuno Mendes was brought down, but the Portuguese captain's effort crashed into the defensive wall.

Three minutes later, Renato Veiga squandered Portugal's best opportunity of the half, heading over from close range after rising unmarked to meet a Fernandes corner.

Croatia struggled to gain a foothold in the match as Portugal controlled possession and pinned Zlatko Dalic's men deep inside their own half.

The only setback for Martinez's side came in the 18th minute when Ruben Dias picked up the game's first yellow card for a high challenge on Ante Budimir.

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After the cooling break midway through the half, Portugal resumed their relentless pressure.

Ronaldo came within inches of connecting with Joao Cancelo's inviting cross in the 31st minute before Livakovic once again came to Croatia's rescue moments later, pushing away Leao's dangerous delivery after another sweeping Portuguese attack.

Croatia finally showed signs of life in the 38th minute when Martin Baturina attempted to break clear, only for Pedro Neto to produce an excellent recovery challenge to snuff out the danger.

Portugal, however, remained firmly on top and continued to create chances, forcing Croatia onto the back foot with a succession of corners as the clock ticked towards the interval.

Deep into the four minutes of added time, Leao wasted Portugal's final opportunity of the half, volleying over the bar from the back post after another dangerous attack.

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Despite dominating possession and creating the better openings, Portugal went into the break frustrated as Croatia's disciplined defending earned them a goalless first half.

Second half

After a dominant but goalless first half, Croatia returned from the break with renewed purpose and nearly caught Portugal cold in the 49th minute when Mateo Kovacic fired into the side-netting after breaking free inside the area.

Their positive start paid off five minutes later as Ivan Perisic ghosted in unmarked at the back post to control a cross before calmly firing past Diogo Costa for the opening goal.

Croatia thought they had doubled their advantage in the 58th minute when substitute Igor Matanovic found the net, but the assistant referee's flag cut short the celebrations for offside.

Portugal responded immediately, with Rafael Leao striking the upright in the 59th minute before Cristiano Ronaldo also had the ball in the net three minutes later, only for VAR to confirm he had strayed offside.

Roberto Martinez reacted with a quadruple substitution just after the hour mark, introducing Bernardo Silva, Nelson Semedo, Francisco Conceicao and Goncalo Ramos in a bid to inject fresh energy into the contest.

The changes sparked Portugal back to life and, after a lengthy VAR review in the 67th minute, the referee awarded a penalty for a foul on Renato Veiga.

Ronaldo stepped up a minute later and coolly dispatched the spot-kick down the middle to level the scores and register his first-ever World Cup knockout goal.

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The game opened up after the cooling break as both sides searched for a winner.

Kovacic twice came close in the 77th minute, first forcing Diogo Costa into a superb save before sending a fierce volley narrowly over the crossbar, while Petar Sucic also had an effort ruled out for offside.

Martinez then made the bold decision to withdraw Ronaldo in the 82nd minute, replacing the veteran striker with Ramos for the closing stages.

Portugal's gamble paid off four minutes into stoppage time. In the 94th minute, Leao delivered a pinpoint cross from the left and Ramos rose above three defenders to power a brilliant header beyond Dominik Livakovic, sending the Portuguese supporters into wild celebrations.

There was still one final twist.

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Croatia believed they had snatched an equaliser with virtually the last kick of the match as the ball found its way into the net during a goalmouth scramble, but a lengthy VAR review ruled the goal out for offside after Matanovic was adjudged to have made the decisive touch before the ball reached Josko Gvardiol.

The decision sparked furious protests from the Croatian players and fans, but moments later the final whistle confirmed Portugal's dramatic passage into the Round of 16, where they will face Spain.