Toronto: Croatia’s 103rd-minute equaliser disallowed in World Cup drama
Controversial VAR Decision
Croatia experienced a dramatic turn of events during their 2026 FIFA World Cup last-32 encounter against Portugal in Toronto, as a 103rd-minute equaliser was disallowed following a contentious VAR review. The decision led to significant outrage among Croatian supporters, who responded by throwing plastic bottles onto the pitch, causing a delay in the match.
The incident occurred when Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol appeared to score, seemingly levelling the score at 2-2. However, the celebrations were cut short when Norwegian referee Espen Eskas was directed to the monitor to review a potential offside. The goal was subsequently ruled out, with Igor Matanovic deemed to have made a slight touch on the cross before it reached an offside Mario Pasalic, who then assisted Gvardiol.
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann provided clarification on the decision, explaining that Pasalic was in an offside position when the ball was last played by a teammate. Cann noted that the ball was deflected by a defender and not deliberately played, thus confirming the offside. He further stated that the Snicko technology provided definitive proof of the touch.
Match Progression and Player Reactions
The match saw Ivan Perisic give Croatia the lead eight minutes into the second half. Cristiano Ronaldo then had a goal disallowed for offside before equalising from the penalty spot, marking his third goal of the tournament and his first in a World Cup knockout round. Ronaldo’s penalty came after VAR identified a foul on Renato Veiga during a corner. The 41-year-old was later replaced by Ruben Neves in the 81st minute.
Goncalo Ramos ultimately secured a 94th-minute winner for Portugal, propelling them into the last 16. Portugal is now set to face rivals Spain in Dallas on July 6. The disallowed goal for Croatia meant that the game did not proceed to extra time, despite their efforts deep into stoppage time.
The final whistle brought visible distress to the Croatian players. Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic was seen in tears and was comforted by Luka Modric. Modric, at 40 years old, is believed to have made his final World Cup appearance, marking his 39th game at a major tournament. Ronaldo was also observed consoling his former Real Madrid teammate Modric, whose international future is reportedly nearing its end. Ronaldo also wore the jersey of his former teammate Diogo Jota, with the one-year anniversary of Jota’s passing approaching.
Technology and Fan Displeasure
The controversy surrounding the VAR decision largely stemmed from the reliance on Snicko technology, which detects touches within the ball. The touch by Matanovic was described as so faint that it was barely visible to the human eye, leading to doubts among some observers. However, Darren Cann’s assessment, conveyed through a message, reinforced the validity of the offside call, stating that the Snicko technology provided 100% proof of the flick-on.
The irate Croatian fans at BMO Field expressed their displeasure by throwing water bottles onto the pitch, causing a delay. Perisic approached the supporters to remonstrate with them before a replay of the offside incident was shown on the big screen. This was perceived by commentators as an attempt to pacify the fans by demonstrating the clear offside position.
This dramatic match concludes Modric’s World Cup career, during which he guided Croatia to a final and a semi-final in previous editions of the tournament. Portugal’s victory means they will advance to face Spain on July 6.
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Source: tntsports.co.uk
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
