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Quick Hits: Ronaldo, Portugal, Croatia and the Game That Had It All

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Portugal and Croatia played a dramatic World Cup match featuring multiple lead changes, VAR interventions, and late goals.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first World Cup knockout goal, but was later substituted, a decision he appeared unhappy with.
  • Goncalo Ramos scored the winning goal for Portugal in injury time, after Croatia had a late equalizer disallowed by VAR.

The World Cup witnessed an extraordinary second half between Portugal and Croatia, widely considered one of the most dramatic in the tournament's history. The match, potentially the final World Cup appearance for legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, exploded into life after a cagey first half.

Portugal. Croatia. Ronaldo. VAR. Incredible drama.

โ€” NarratorDescribing the intense second half of the match.

Croatia took the lead through Ivan Perisic, but the game soon turned. A Ronaldo goal was correctly disallowed for offside, followed by a penalty awarded to Portugal after a VAR review for holding. Ronaldo converted the penalty, marking his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout stage.

Late in the game, Croatia thought they had retaken the lead through Petar Sucic, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside. Portugal manager Roberto Martinez then substituted Ronaldo, a decision the veteran forward did not seem to take well. In deep injury time, Goncalo Ramos headed home a brilliant cross from Rafael Leao, seemingly securing victory for Portugal.

The second half of Portugal's clash with Croatia might have topped it all.

โ€” NarratorHighlighting the exceptional drama of the match.

However, the drama continued as Croatia pushed forward and scored again in the 113th minute through Josko Gvardiol. A lengthy VAR review, using 'snicko' technology to determine the final touch, ultimately disallowed the goal for an offside in the build-up. Croatian fans reacted by throwing projectiles onto the pitch, delaying the restart before the match finally concluded.

Ronaldo duly converted what was his first ever goal in a World Cup knockout match.

โ€” NarratorDescribing Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty goal.

The game ended with Portugal advancing and Croatia eliminated, a heartbreaking conclusion for Modric and his teammates. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring brilliant goals, controversial VAR decisions, and a fittingly dramatic end for one of the tournament's anticipated clashes.

Goncalo Ramos met a brilliant Rafael Leao cross with an equally brilliant header to surely win the game for Portugal.

โ€” NarratorDescribing the winning goal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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