What happened in those final minutes : NPR
NPR • • sports
Key Points:
- Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic World Cup match at Toronto Stadium, advancing to the round of 16 after a late goal by Gonçalo Ramos and a disallowed equalizer for Croatia in added time.
- Josko Gvardiol’s potential game-tying goal was ruled offside after VAR review confirmed an offside position despite a deflection off a Portugal defender, sparking intense emotions and protests from Croatian players and fans.
- The match featured key moments including Ivan Perisic’s first-half goal for Croatia, Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty equalizer for Portugal, and heroic saves by Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
- Ronaldo, playing likely his last World Cup, showed relief at the final whistle and honored late teammate Diogo Jota, while Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić criticized VAR decisions for diminishing the spirit and emotion of the game.
- The match was marked by multiple offside calls and video reviews, highlighting ongoing controversies surrounding the use of VAR in football.
