PORTUGAL came from behind in Split to beat 10-man Croatia 3-2 thanks to a stoppage-time Ruben Dias winner.
The away side couldn’t find a way to get Cristiano Ronaldo on the scoresheet, and the football legend will head into next year with the aim of notching seven more international goals to beat Ali Daei’s all-time record.
- Score: Croatia 2-3 Portugal
- Croatia XI: Livakovic, Juranovic, Lovren, Skroric, Bradaric, Rog, Kovacic, Modric, Pasalic, Vlasic, Perisic
- Portugal XI: Patricio, N. Semedo, Dias, R. Semedo, Rui, Pereira, Moutinho, Fernandes, Felix, Jota, Ronaldo
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THAT’S A WRAP
Thanks for joining us this evening.
Don’t fret… there’s more Nations League action for you to enjoy tomorrow!
STAT ATTACK
CRO V POR
Ronaldo will have to wait a little longer to get his 103rd goal for country, but he did manage his 101st win with his national side.
Kovacic, on the other hand, was the star of the Croatian side bagging both of their goals.
TABLE SERVICE
Here’s the final standings in Group A3.
Sweden drop down to B, while France progress to the finals.
HIT FOR SIX
It’s been a goal-fest in Spain, as they have scored SIX against Germany!
While the other game in this group has now concluded, with France getting a fourth; final score 4-2.
FULL TIME
Portugal spent most of the second half with a one-man advantage but have finished the game with a one goal advantage.
Croatia pushed them right to the death, but several keeper errors cost them the game.
France are currently 3-2 up against Sweden which saves Croatia from relegation, there’s a minute left of that game.
FT: CROATIA 2-3 PORTUGAL
CROATIA 2-3 PORTUGAL
90. Substitution for Croatia; Kovacic is replaced by Basic.
89. Crucial error in the dying minutes by Livakovic.
As a Portuguese corner is whipped in Livakovic is up to meet it at the edge of the six-yard box.
He catches it high in the air, but as he comes to the ground he clatters Lovren and drops the ball.
Dias spots the bouncing ball and turns a full 180 away from Lovren tapping it into the back of the net.
CROATIA 2-3 PORTUGAL
GOOOOAL
ANOTHER ERROR BETWEEN THE STICKS
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
89. Lovren marshals his troops ahead of Portugal’s corner.
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
87. Juranovic is down clutching his throat.
Seemed to block a cross with his wind pope.
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
86. Croatia are trying to keep the gaps available to Portugal to a minimum- they’ve been very disciplined defensively.
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
85. There’s still time for either side to pinch the three points here..
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
83. Semedo gives the ball a helping hand in the eyeline of Oliver and gifts Croatia a free kick just inside Portugal’s half.
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
83. Substitution for Croatia; Vlasic is replaced by Orsic
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
80. Lovren is down receiving treatment, looks to have collided heads with a light-green shirt in the box.
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
78. Livakovic keeps it level!
Olivero hits the ball from the centre of the box at goal, but Livakovic bats it away.
Again he fails to collect it properly and this time it falls into the path of Bernardo Silva.
The Manchester City man fires it way over the bar in what was Portugal’s 14th attempt.
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
Two goals in 60 games for Kovacic, but tonight he’s had two in 60 minutes…
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
Two substitutions for Portugal; Jota is replaced by Paulinho.
Danilo for Oliveira
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
75. Ronaldo is denied his 103rd as he can’t beat the solid Croatian centre-half.
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
Here’s Portugal’s second goal…
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
71. Perisic shoots from a tight angle on the left, but it rolls out the other side of the box.
The Croatian forward was forced to shoot as there were no other black shirts anywhere near the box.
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
70. Bringing on the Calvary, Portugal make two substitutions; Bernardo Silva on for Felix
And Rui is replaced by Cancelo
CROATIA 2-2 PORTUGAL
68. Considering they are down to ten, Croatia are playing with confidence here.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
