Ballsy Ronaldo call vindicated as brutal 103rd-minute twist breaks hearts in all-time World Cup epic

Cristiano Ronaldo broke a major World Cup drought as Portugal prevailed in the wildest game of the tournament with three goals scored and three goals disallowed in a chaotic second half in Toronto.

Earlier, a tournament favourite avoided the same upset fate as its fellow European giants and banished a 16-year hoodoo dating back to their last World Cup triumph with a powerful Round of 32 statement.

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PORTUGAL WIN WORLD CUP CLASSIC

Substitute Goncalo Ramos’s headed goal edged Portugal into the last 16 of the World Cup on Thursday after a gripping contest with Croatia.

Ramos connected with a superb pass from Rafael Leao in the fourth minute of stoppage time to snuff out a Croatia team which had created the lion’s share of the chances in sapping evening heat in Toronto.

In a dramatic ending, Croatia thought they had equalised in the dying seconds but Josko Gvardiol’s goal was chalked off for offside.

The Croatians were left stunned by the decision, while Portugal’s players celebrated.

Cristiano Ronaldo played his role in the victory, stroking home a penalty that cancelled out Ivan Perisic’s opener.

It was Ronaldo’s first ever goal in the knockout phase of the World Cup and his remarkable international career will have another chapter when Portugal face Spain in Dallas on Monday.

Perisic had stunned the Portuguese by slotting the ball under the advancing Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa in the 53rd minute.

Within minutes, Ronaldo had the ball in the net after controlling a long pass, but his effort was disallowed for offside.

But Portugal got level when Renato Veiga was grabbed by Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic in the penalty area and after a VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot.

Ronaldo stepped up to convert the penalty with ease, hitting the ball straight down the middle of the goal and pumping his fists with joy afterwards.

In a pulsating game, Manchester City forward Mateo Kovacic’s low shot was pushed onto a post by ‘keeper Costa’s fingertips.

Still Croatia pushed and Peta Sucic had the ball in the net but the assistant referee’s flag was up for a clear offside.

Ronaldo was withdrawn in the 81st minute to allow Ruben Neves to come on. Croatia continued to create more chances than their opponents and Mario Pasalic came so close to winning the game with a header at the far post, but it bounced just wide.

But when Ramos connected, the net bulged and Portugal were through.

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RONALDO RETIREMENT REPORT

Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister claims he will retire from international football at the end of the World Cup.

Katia Aveiro told reporters that this tournament will be Ronaldo’s ‘last dance’ ahead of Portugal’s last 32 clash with Croatia.

She told Sport TV: “Enjoy it while it lasts. It’s ending soon.

“The info I have, from a reliable source… this is his last dance.

“I believe it’s not today that they’ll say goodbye, but it’s coming soon. I strongly believe this is the farewell.

“So enjoy it a lot because it will be difficult to find someone after 200 goals. I’m talking about the Portuguese national team.”

Spain impress with dominant Austria win | 00:59

SWITZERLAND BEAT ALGERIA 2-0 TO MOVE INTO WORLD CUP LAST 16

Switzerland moved into the last 16 of the World Cup with a controlled 2-0 win against Algeria on Thursday.

The Swiss will face the winners of Friday’s tie between Colombia and Ghana. The effervescent Johan Manzambi created the first goal in Vancouver, surging down the left wing before crossing for Breel Embolo to tap in.

Dan Ndoye slotted in the second, shooting through a crowd of players. Algeria ‘keeper Luca Zidane was unable to get a strong enough hand to the ball on a bitterly disappointing night for the north Africans.

Algeria join Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal as African teams to be knocked out so far at the last-32 stage. Only Morocco have progressed.

SPAIN SNAP WORLD CUP CURSE

Spain coasted past Austria and into the World Cup last-16 on Thursday, thoroughly outclassing their opponents in a 3-0 knockout win with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header.

The European champions controlled possession and sliced through the Austrian defense in a typically dominant performance in Los Angeles, as Hollywood stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and singer Rosalia cheered on.

The win -- which could have been by a greater margin, with a disallowed goal and a free kick off the woodwork -- sets up a tantalizing round-of-16 clash with either Portugal or Croatia.

The SoFi Stadium was a sea of red and excitement was sky-high over the first visit by a bona fide World Cup favorite to America’s second city.

Spain ratcheted up the pressure gradually through the first half, creating a string of chances after the first hydration break.

Marc Cucurella thought he had scored from a Lamine Yamal corner, but Pau Cubarsi was judged to have encroached on Austria’s goalkeeper.

Alexander Schlager then made a superb diving save, pushing Oyarzabal’s low shot around the post.

Austria’s defense finally buckled in the 36th minute. Pedri pinged a ball wide left to Cucurella, whose cross to Oyarzabal was calmly side-footed past the ‘keeper.

Spain’s dominance grew further, with Yamal tormenting the Austrians, mainly from the right flank.

An Alex Baena free kick hit the crossbar, and Yamal’s close-range follow-up shot was well saved.

Austria spurned a rare chance at the other end. Romano Schmid played in a late-arriving and unmarked Stefan Posch, but a terrible first touch meant he lost the ball before even attempting a shot.

After the break Spain continued knocking on the door without quite putting the game to rest.

Austria sent on two giant strikers -- Sasa Kalajdzic and Marko Arnautovic -- and immediately went long, with Kalajdzic putting a header over the bar.

But in the 66th minute, Spain struck again. Baena lifted a cross onto the head of Pedro Porro, who nodded in his first goal for Spain.

Some dogged defending kept the scoreline respectable, including a goalline clearance by David Alaba from Yamal, who was substituted off to rest moments later.

Spain sprayed passes around the pitch as the final minutes ticked down, eliciting “Oles” from the crowd, as attention turned to a sterner test on Monday in Dallas.

In the 89th minute, a pinpoint Cucurella cross found a completely unmarked Oyarzabal in the penalty area, who slotted the ball home.

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