Burkina Faso
Friendly Games
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Croatia1 - 1Portugal

sportsmole.co.uk, 18 November 2024, 21:53
On a night where Croatia needed just a point to guarantee their progression from League A Group 1 in the UEFA Nations League, Josko Gvardiol continued his superb recent scoring form to help the hosts come from behind and draw 1-1 with Portugal in Split.

Although Croatia needed at least a point to secure a top-two finish, it was Portugal that seized control from the start, dominating possession and appearing more threatening, with the hosts merely looking to exploit counterattacks at any given opportunity.

The visitors eventually capitalised on their dominance when Vitinha played a long pass from defence to attack, sending the ball into the path of Joao Felix, who had broken past the Croatia defence and, after brilliantly controlling it with the outside of his right foot, fired his strike through Dominik Livakovic's legs and into the net, giving Portugal the lead after 33 minutes.

Croatia believed they had equalised just after the hour mark when Gvardiol headed in from close range, but the flag quickly went up to deny the hosts, however, just minutes later and Gvardiol did have his goal, this time sneaking in at the back post to meet Kristijan Jakic's cross and squeezing his shot past Jose Sa into the near corner.

The equaliser sparked the hosts into action for the remainder of the second half, as they controlled more of the ball and came close to taking the lead on several occasions, only for wasteful finishing and a series of superb saves from Sa denying them at the last moment.

With Scotland winning 2-1 in their match against Poland, Croatia could have opted to defend their crucial point, but it was the hosts that pushed for the winner in the final moments, with Ante Budimir hitting the post late in the game, but the final whistle eventually rang to ensure Zlatko Dalic's side finished second in the group.

CROATIA VS. PORTUGAL HIGHLIGHTS

Joao Felix goal vs. Croatia (33rd min, Croatia 0-1 Portugal)

That is sublime from Felix, the group leaders have gone ahead in Split!

Vitinha has possession in Portugal's defensive third and looks forward for passing options, choosing to play an arcing ball into the path of Felix, who has made a run beyond the Croatia defence and towards goal.

The Chelsea forward brings the ball into his path with a superb first touch using the outside of his right foot, takes another touch to drive into the penalty area, and fires a left-footed strike through Livakovic's legs and into the net.

Josko Gvardiol goal vs. Portugal (65th min, Croatia 1-1 Portugal)

Gvardiol has found the equaliser, Croatia are going through in second place as it stands!

Jakic has the ball on the right side, cuts onto his left foot, and delivers an inviting, curling cross that sails past everyone in the box and reaches the back post, where Gvardiol sneaks in unmarked.

The defender does not make the cleanest contact on his volley, with the ball rebounding directly into the floor, but it manages to squeeze its way past Sa at the near post and into the net, pulling Croatia level.

MAN OF THE MATCH - JOSKO GVARDIOL

Gvardiol has been in immense goalscoring form for a defender in recent matches, and he continued that run with Croatia's equalising goal just after the hour mark, bouncing his volley off the floor and narrowly past Sa at the near post.

The defender was unlucky to not have scored just minutes prior when he headed in from a similar cross, but the flag instantly deemed the goal to be offside and a brief VAR check confirmed the decision.

Portugal's Felix must also be given a mention, particularly for his superb showing in a first half that saw Portugal dominate the ball, with the forward creating plenty of threat for Croatia, including a fantastically taken opening goal.

CROATIA VS. PORTUGAL MATCH STATS

Possession: Croatia 43%-57% Portugal

Shots: Croatia 15-12 Portugal

Shots on target: Croatia 9-5 Portugal

Corners: Croatia 5-7 Portugal

Fouls: Croatia 8-8 Portugal

BEST STATS

WHAT NEXT?

Portugal were already guaranteed to place top of League A Group 1 before this game, but tonight's draw ensured that Roberto Martinez's men remained unbeaten in their six group matches, winning four and drawing two.

As for the hosts, they came into this game needing just a point to guarantee their progression from the group in second place regardless of Scotland's result, and they did exactly that, coming from behind to draw 1-1, meaning they advance to the quarter-finals.

Show more

Top News

9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Istanbul vs. Fenerbahce (Friday, 6.00pm) Round 35 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig kicks off with a clash between Fenerbahce, who are clinging to a slim title hope, and Istanbul Basaksehir, who remain in contention for a European place. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to continue strong starts to the Major League Soccer season, Minnesota United and Inter Miami will do battle at Allianz Field on Saturday. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The final match of the MLS weekend will see the top-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps host a surging Los Angeles FC side on Sunday at BC Place Stadium. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With their hopes of staying in the Bundesliga resting on finishing in the relegation playoff spot, Heidenheim will travel to face Union Berlin at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Saturday. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Marcus Rashford is said to have changed agents in order to help a transfer to Barcelona materialise in the summer transfer window. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara's quest for European football goes down to the wire as they play host to Famalicao at the Estadio de Sao Miguel in the penultimate game of the 2024-25 Primeira Liga campaign on Saturday. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly not offered Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne a contract ahead of the expiry of his deal in the summer. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Liam Manning labelled referee Oliver Langford's decision to send Rob Dickie off as a 'disgrace' as Bristol City's play-off hopes took a major blow. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has reportedly been recommended by former Tottenham Hotspur managing director Fabio Paratici as a replacement for Ange Postecoglou. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Eyupspor will look to halt their downward slide when they welcome Kasimpasa to Istanbul on matchday 35 of the Turkish Super Lig. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Ruben Amorim believes that luck, fitness and clinical finishing must go Manchester United's way in order to claim Europa League glory at Tottenham Hotspur's expense. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Galatasaray continue their march towards another Turkish Super Lig crown when they travel to the Black Sea coast for a clash with an in-form Trabzonspor side in one of the standout fixtures of round 35. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur wrote a new chapter of club history by downing Bodo/Glimt 2-0 to reach the 2024-25 Europa League final. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Second-bottom Saint-Etienne could be relegated from Ligue 1 this weekend when they travel to Stade Auguste-Delaune II to face a Reims side seeking consecutive home wins for the first time this season. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Visitors Borussia Monchengladbach must beat newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on Saturday at Allianz Arena to keep their European hopes alive. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea made it to the final of the UEFA Conference League after beating Djurgardens IF 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their semi-final on Thursday evening. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Angers and Strasbourg face off in the penultimate Ligue 1 fixture at Stade Raymond Kopa with much on the line. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City Women will wrap up the 2024-25 season when they welcome Crystal Palace Women to the Joie Stadium for Saturday's contest. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Robert Huth labelled Mikel Arteta 'bitter' and believes his controversial claims could have a detrimental effect on Arsenal. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With European football at stake in the final two matchweeks of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, Werder Bremen will host RB Leipzig at Weserstadion on Saturday. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will fight for European silverware in this season's all-England Europa League final. 8 May 2025 talksport.com The Europa League final is set and we will see an all-English showpiece between Manchester United and Tottenham. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hosts Holstein Kiel could be relegated from the Bundesliga if they lose against Champions League hopefuls Freiburg on Saturday at Holstein-Stadion. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United secured their place in the Europa League final with a 4-1 win on the night and 7-1 aggregate victory against Athletic Bilbao, setting up a Battle of Britain clash with Tottenham Hotspur. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will travel to the King Power Stadium for a meeting with Leicester City Women on the final day of the Women's Super League season. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur advanced into the Europa League final after beating hosts Bodo/Glimt 2-0 on Thursday in the second leg of their semi-final clash, beating their Norwegian counterparts 5-1 on aggregate. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Dallas and Real Salt Lake will clash at the Toyota Stadium this weekend in their gameweek 12 MLS encounter. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton Women will be looking to claim back-to-back victories when they face Tottenham Hotspur Women in Saturday's final game of the season. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Paul Scholes was left red-faced during his pre-match analysis of Athletic Bilbao ahead of their clash against Manchester United. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Fabio Paratici has recommended Roberto De Zerbi to Tottenham Hotspur as a potential Ange Postecoglou replacement, talkSPORT understands.