TORONTO : Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first World Cup knockout-stage goal of his career and Goncalo Ramos struck deep into stoppage time as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 on Thursday to set up a last-16 clash with Spain.
Portugal looked set for extra time after Ivan Perisic’s second-half opener, but Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot before substitute Ramos headed home in the 94th minute.
Croatia thought they had forced extra time when Josko Gvardiol found the net in the 103rd minute, only for the goal to be ruled out after a Video Assistant Referee review showed the ball had deflected off Igor Matanovic, leaving Gvardiol offside.
“It’s difficult because it’s a game if you don’t win, you go home,” Ramos said.
“But for me, especially, I love those types of moments, I love those types of games. I want to play every game like that, I want to be in the big moment.”
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was left frustrated by the dramatic finish.
“We didn’t deserve this sort of finish,” he said.
“It’s never easy when you concede a goal in the last minutes of the match but we should have resolved this differently.”
Ronaldo, 41, became the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout match when he converted a 68th-minute penalty after Renato Veiga was fouled by Nikola Vlasic.
The goal was the Portugal captain’s first in the knockout rounds of the tournament.
Portugal had dominated possession in the opening half but failed to turn their control into goals.
Ronaldo, jeered by Croatia supporters throughout, missed an early chance from Pedro Neto’s cross before he and Bruno Fernandes were unable to capitalise on another dangerous delivery from Joao Cancelo.
Croatia emerged with greater purpose after the break and took the lead in the 53rd minute when Perisic controlled Josip Stanisic’s pass before firing beyond the goalkeeper.
They nearly doubled their advantage through Vlasic before the effort was ruled out for offside, while Portugal came close at the other end when Rafael Leao struck the crossbar from distance.
Ronaldo also had the ball in the net after lifting it over Dominik Livakovic, but the effort was disallowed for offside.
The veteran finally found his breakthrough from the penalty spot before Ramos completed the turnaround, rising highest to head home in stoppage time.
Portugal played with added emotion as the match came one day before the first anniversary of the death of forward Diogo Jota in a car crash.
Jota was honoured before kickoff and again in the 21st minute when Portuguese supporters rose to applaud.
After the final whistle, an emotional Ronaldo donned Jota’s number 21 shirt.
“We won for us, Diogo and Portugal. Let’s go,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.
Coach Roberto Martinez also paid tribute.
“Several beautiful symbols of power and energy and what Jota meant for the team,” he said.
“He was someone who believed, and we have responsibility for Diogo and we are going to keep doing this.”
Ronaldo and Luka Modric, long-time teammates at Real Madrid, embraced after what could prove to be the Croatian captain’s final World Cup appearance.
“I spoke with him. He’s a legend of football,” Ronaldo said.
“Played so many years together with him at Real Madrid. I wish him all the best and I hope he continues to play.”
Portugal will face Spain in Dallas on Monday, with the winners advancing to a quarter-final against either Belgium or the United States.
