In a thrilling UEFA Nations League A Group 1 encounter in Split on Monday, Croatia battled to a 1-1 draw against Portugal, earning a valuable point that secures their place in the March 2025 quarterfinals. Both teams will advance, with Portugal having already secured the top spot in the group prior to kickoff.
The match saw Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol make a significant impact, scoring his first international goal in two years. His equalizer came after Portugal had taken the lead through a superb strike from Joao Felix. Felix expertly controlled a precise pass from Vitinha and fired a low shot past Croatia’s goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, putting the visitors ahead.
Undeterred, Croatia pressed for an equalizer. Gvardiol nearly set up Andrej Kramaric, whose shot hit the post and bounced to safety. The breakthrough came when Kristijan Jakic delivered a perfect cross to the back post, allowing Gvardiol to head the ball past Portugal’s goalkeeper Jose Sa, leveling the score.
The game remained intense, with Livakovic producing a brilliant save to deny Nuno Mendes, while at the other end, Jose Sa made a fingertip stop against Ante Budimir, who later struck the post from close range.
With this result, Croatia finished second in the group with eight points from six games, while Portugal topped the group despite resting star player Cristiano Ronaldo. Both teams now look forward to competing in the quarterfinals next year.
Reference(s):
Croatia reach UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after Portugal draw
cgtn.com
