Ronaldo scores penalty to draw Portugal level against Croatia; second half underway

Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot to make it 1-1 for Portugal after Ivan Perisic put Croatia ahead in their round of 32 meeting of the FIFA World Cup in Toronto.

Portugal were awarded a penalty after a VAR review, and Ronaldo made no mistake from the spot in the 68th minute. A few minutes before that, the veteran was halfway into his ‘Siu’ celebration after a neat finish, but the offside flag had been raised.

Perisic had fired past Diogo Costa in the 53rd minute after arriving at the far post to meet a cross from Josip Stanisic that missed everyone vying for it in the box. The Croats so nearly doubled the lead, but Vlasic was flagged offside.

Croatia had been on the back foot in the first half, in which the Portuguese dominated possession, attempted three times as many shots and passed around with greater ease across the pitch.

Bruno Fernandes, who came close with a shot on target that Livakovic kept out with a smart low save, was taken off at the hour.

Croatia were unchanged from their decisive final group game against Ghana, while Portugal started with Rafael Leao in place of Joao Felix on the left wing.

Incredibly, this is the first meeting between Portugal and Croatia at a World Cup. Ronaldo is 41, and Modric is 40, and this could be the last time the football-loving world sees the two icons clash at the world stage for their respective countries.

The winner of the match will play Spain in the round of 16 in Arlington on July 6.