Croatia sees last-gasp equalizer wiped away by brutal VAR offside call
New York Post • • sports
Key Points:
- Croatia's World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak after a late goal to tie the match against Portugal was disallowed by VAR due to an offside call involving a slight touch by Igor Matanović.
- The controversial decision came after a lengthy VAR review showed Matanović's header led to Mario Pašalić being offside, nullifying what initially appeared to be an equalizing own goal by Portugal's Ruben Neves.
- Portugal won the match 2-1 and advanced to the Round of 16 to face Spain, while Croatian fans were left disappointed, especially as it was likely Luka Modrić's final World Cup appearance.
- The match was highlighted as a showdown between two soccer legends, Luka Modrić and Cristiano Ronaldo, both possibly playing their last World Cup games, with Portugal's coach Roberto Martinez praising their longevity and impact on the sport.
