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Portugal achieved a dramatic 3-2 victory over Croatia in a Group 3 match of Division A of the Nations League.
The match at the Polyud Stadium in Split was full of twists and turns and interesting moments. Both goals for the hosts were scored by Mateo Kovacic in the 29th and 65th minutes. Ruben Dias (52 ‘) and Joao Felix (60’) scored between their goals. In the 90th minute, the Manchester City defender gave the guests victory after a striking mistake by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
The turning point came in the 51st minute, when Marcos Rog was sent off for a second yellow card and the “chess players” ended the game with one man less on the field. In the final classification, Portugal finished in second place with 13 points, behind France, whose team qualified for the semi-finals in the last round.
Croatia remained in third place and retained their place in Division A at the expense of Sweden. Both teams finished with 3 points after exchanging a 2: 1 home win. However, the goal difference is in favor of the 2018 World Cup finalist: 9:16 versus 5:13.
The guests started the game better and in the 19th minute Cristiano Ronaldo tried everything to catch in the area, but failed. Little by little, Croatia tied the game and after almost half an hour of play took the lead. Mateo Kovacic controlled a rebound in the penalty area and with a shot to the right of the goal beat Dominic Livakovic 1: 0!
In the 37th minute, Josip Juranovic intercepted a close header, but within the out. 120 seconds later, Danilo Pereira missed a great opportunity to equalize. He received an excellent pass, controlled and shot hard in the middle of the gate, but Livakovic saved.
The drama in Split remained during the second half. First, Ruben Dias missed a header and, in the 51st minute, Croatia were left with one man less on the field after referee Michael Oliver took Marcos Rog offside for a second yellow card.
This moment was immediately reflected and Dias doubled with Rubén Semedo, after which the Manchester City defender with a shot in the lower right corner scored the 1: 1! After an hour of play, the European champion turned upside down. Joao Félix jumped out of depth and with a kick of a movement he surpassed Rui Patricio by 2: 1! In the situation, Diogo Jota was playing with his hand, but this was not noticed by the judges.
However, the finalist of the 2018 World Cup did not give up and 5 minutes later he tied after Kovacic inflicted an unavoidable shot from the play by 2: 2. In the 76th minute Francisco Trinkao was able to give the Iberian advantage again , but his shot went out.
A little later, the goalkeeper stopped a shot from the young Barcelona player, and in the addition Bernardo Silva made an unforgivable mistake. The Manchester City ace only had to score from close range, but instead sent the ball over the crossbar.
This led to the 90th minute, when Livakovic dropped the ball into the penalty area and Dias with his second goal of the match brought dramatic success for Portugal.
Croatia – Portugal 2: 3
Goal scorers: 1: 0 Kovacic (29), 1: 1 Days (52), 1: 2 Felix (60), 2: 2 Kovacic (65), 2: 3 Days (90)
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