Portugal and Croatia needed all 90 minutes, plus some, to determine a winner.
Both Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo, two soccer legends, knew that the loser would exit their final World Cup.
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Portugal would dominate much of the first half, outshooting Croatia nine to three.
In the 4th minute, Bruno Fernandes would force the only save of the half for Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
But the chaos created in the box made it apparent that Portugal wanted to take the lead early.
A few minutes later, a Pedro Neto pass would look for Ronaldo in the box, but it would just miss high of the Portuguese legend.
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And Portugal’s opportunities just kept coming, with another materializing in the 30th minute.
But once again, they would squander the scoring opportunity.
The half would end with a scoreless deadlock.
But Croatia, who was held in check for a majority of the first half, came out of the break with vigor.
In the 53rd minute, Croatia’s Ivan Perisic collected a rebound and fired it home into the back of the net.
And just a few minutes later, Igor Matanovic would seemingly make a huge impact off the bench.
But the offsides flag would negate Croatia’s chance at a second.
In the 58th minute, Portugal mounted a great opportunity to equalize, but Rafael Leão’s strike would knock off the cross bar.
A few minutes later in the 61st minute, Ronaldo seemingly found the back of the net, but the offsides flag would go up.
And following a review, it would be determined that Ronaldo was, in fact, offsides.
However, the Portuguese legend, playing in possibly his final World Cup, would not be denied his first knockout stage goal.
Following a Croatian foul in the box, Ronaldo would step up to take the penalty.
And, in Ronaldo fashion, he’d sink it to draw the game level at one.
However, Croatia looked to bounce back, forcing Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa to make a fantastic save.
In the 80th minute, Croatia looked to capitalize on a massive opportunity to take the lead.
Petar Sucic would take a one-on-one with Costa, sending the ball into the back of the net.
But once again, the offsides flag would negate yet another goal.
Just a minute later in the 81st and almost unbelievably, Ronaldo would be subbed off in favor of Rúben Neves.
The match would remain knotted at one a piece until stoppage time.
In the 90+4th minute, Gonçalo Ramos would put the Portuguese ahead with an incredible header.
But Croatia would just not let the game end, in the 90+13th minute Croatia would equalizer with an unbelievable sequence that ended with a Portuguese own goal.
But following a VAR review, it would be determined that a Croatia’s goal would be offsides.
Portugal would hang on to their one goal advantage, taking the match 2-1.
With their round of 16 match will see them take on Spain at 3 p.m. on Monday.
Follow Adrian Murillo Silva on Instagram @adrianms_offical
