Joao Felix was on target as Portugal beat Croatia 3-2 in Zagreb on Matchday 6 of the UEFA Nations League group stages on Wednesday night. Mario Kovacic had given the hosts the lead in the 28th minute of the encounter before Croatia were reduced to 10 men at the start of the second half following Marko Rog's sending off for two yellow cards.
At the resulting free-kick from Rog's second booking, the ball was eventually turned in by Ruben Dias after Dominik Livakovic had parried Cristiano Ronaldo's shot. Portugal went ahead when Joao Felix tapped in Diogo Jota's pull-back but Kovacic's second goal of the night levelled the scores again.That was how it stayed until stoppage time, when Livakovic dropped a Portuguese corner at the feet of Dias, who tucked the ball home to net a late winner for the visitors.
France had already won this Nations League group before the final round of fixtures, which left just relegation to be decided on Tuesday. Croatia's blushes were spared in that respect, as they only had to equal what Sweden did against France, with that game ending 4-2 to Les Bleus. Kingsley Coman's goal in stoppage time in Paris ultimately confirmed Croatia's survival at Sweden's expense.
Match sheet:
2 - Croatia: Dominik Livakovic; Domagoj Bradaric; Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Mile Skoric; Luka Modric, Marko Rog, Mateo Kovacic (Toma Basic, in. 91), Mario Pasalic (Josip Brekalo, min. 64); Ivan Perisic, Nikola Vlasic (Sérgio Oliveira, min. 84).
3 - Portugal: Rui Patrício; Nélson Semedo, Rúben Dias, Rúben Semedo y Mário Rui (Cancelo, min. 71; Danilo (Sérgio Oliveira, min. 77), João Moutinho Y Bruno Fernandes (Trincão, min. 45); João Félix (Bernardo Silva, min. 71), Diogo Jota (Paulinho, min. 77) Y Cristiano Ronaldo.
Goals: 0-1, m. 29: Kovacic; 1-1, min. 52: Rúben Dias; 1-2, min, 60: João Félix; 2-2, min 64: Mateo Kovacic; 2-3, min. 90: Rúben Dias.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Inglaterra).