Portugal reached the World Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over Croatia in Toronto, a match that lurched from one flashpoint to the next before Gonçalo Ramos headed the winner deep into added time. The result sets up an Iberian derby against Spain in Dallas, but the night will be remembered as much for the goals that were disallowed as the ones that stood.

Croatia had taken the lead through Ivan Perišić’s 53rd-minute strike, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to level from the penalty spot after a VAR review ruled that Renato Veiga had been pulled down at a corner. The conversion was Ronaldo’s first ever goal in a World Cup knockout tie, ending a drought that had stretched across eight previous matches and five tournaments. At 41 years and 147 days, he also became the oldest player to score in the knockout phase. Yet his evening ended on the bench: manager Roberto Martínez withdrew his captain with nine minutes remaining, and it was substitute Ramos who met a cross to snatch the winner in the 94th minute.

The final act belonged to the video assistant referee. Josko Gvardiol thought he had forced extra time when he turned in a loose ball, but the goal was ruled out for offside against Mario Pašalić after officials examined a near-imperceptible touch by Igor Matanović, detected by the ball’s sensor technology. Croatia’s captain Luka Modrić did not hide his anger. “They use it selectively, or depending on the size of the team,” he said of the VAR system. Spanish outlets led with that accusation, while Indonesian coverage focused on the emotional tribute that framed the evening.

Exactly one year earlier, the former Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva had died in a car crash in Spain. Ronaldo, who had worn a commemorative armband throughout the match, pulled on a No. 21 jersey bearing Jota’s name after the final whistle and raised both hands to the sky. “We won for him,” he said. Rúben Neves, who had also sported the number during the game, added: “Not a single day goes by that I don’t remember Diogo.”

Portugal now travel to Texas to face a Spain side that dismantled Austria 3-0. Neves, recalling the Nations League final won on penalties a year ago, noted: “Spain scared people then too, and we beat them.” The question Martínez must answer is whether his captain starts that contest. Ronaldo’s penalty was his only shot of the night, and Portugal looked more fluid after his withdrawal. The debate, already simmering in Indian and European analysis, will only intensify before the meeting in Dallas.