Majestic Cristiano Ronaldo lights up World Cup with hat-trick in thrilling draw
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Updated 15/06/2018 at 22:25 GMT
World Cup Group B, Fisht Stadium - Portugal 3 (Ronaldo (p) 4', 44', 88') Spain 3 (Costa 24', 55', Nacho 58')
Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo (R) celebrates after scoring his third goal during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group B football match between Portugal and Spain at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi on June 15, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning late free-kick to save a 3-3 draw for Portugal in a dramatic World Cup clash against Spain.
It was the 33-year-old’s 51st career hat trick, rubbing salt into Spanish wounds after a nightmare week for the 2010 winners. For much of the game it looked like Fernando Hierro would start his emergency national team tenure with a win, but Ronaldo pegged Spain back.
It took just four minutes for the Real Madrid man to score the opener, winning a penalty after a foul from his club team-mate Nacho before converting from the spot. Diego Costa then levelled things, beating the Portuguese defence all on his own to drive a finish into the bottom corner.
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Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo (C) celebrates his second goal with teammates during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group B football match between Portugal and Spain at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi on June 15, 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
Just as it looked like Spain were taking control, a rare error from David De Gea gave Ronaldo his second, as the Manchester United keeper allowed a low strike to squirm through his hands. Spain pulled up their socks for the second half, though, and restored parity once more through Costa, who bundled in from close range following a neat David Silva free-kick routine.
Nacho made amends for his earlier error by smashing home an astonishing half-volley drive not long after, striking both posts before finding the back of the net. But Ronaldo stepped up with only minutes left to play, curling home a free-kick from the edge of the box. This game has now set the bar for this World Cup.
TALKING POINT
Did Spain show enough to suggest they will be fine? Nobody was quite sure what to expect from Spain after the week they had endured. The difficult start, going behind after just four minutes, hinted at bad things to come, but the 2010 World Cup winners rallied themselves and managed to take a grip of the game in the second half. Were it not for the brilliance of Ronaldo they would have started their campaign with three points. So did this performance show that they will still be contenders at this World Cup despite all that has happened in the past few days?
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Diego Costa and Spain celebrate
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MAN OF THE MATCH
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Before this game, Ronaldo hadn’t ever found his best form at the World Cup. Well, that can no longer be uttered. This was the great forward at his absolute best. Ronaldo drove this Portuguese side forward from the first whistle to the last, scoring three times to peg back a Spain team in full flow. His free-kick equaliser will be remembered as a great World Cup moment for years to come.
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Portugal - Patricio 5, Cedric 5, Fonte 6, Pepe 5, Guerreiro 5, Carvalho 6, Moutinho 7, Bernardo 5, Fernandes 7, Guedes 6, Ronaldo 9. Subs - Queresma 6, Mario 5, Silva 4.
Spain - De Gea 4, Nacho 8, Pique 7, Ramos 8, Alba 7, Koke 5, Busquets 7, Silva 8, Isco 8, Iniesta 8, Costa 8. Subs - Aspas 6, Thiago 6, Vazquez.
KEY MOMENTS
3’ PENALTY KICK TO PORTUGAL! The referee points to the spot as Ronaldo goes down inside the box. The tackle was made by Nacho and it looked to be a foul.
4’ GOAL! Portugal 1-0 Spain: It's taken a grand total of four minutes for Ronaldo to make his mark in this game! He won the penalty kick and he converts from 12 yards out, sending De Gea the wrong way, placing a powerful spot kick straight down the middle.
24’ GOAL! Portugal 1-1 Spain: Spain equaliser! Costa has scored all by himself! He won the ball in a header, then beat Fonte as he surged towards goal and found the bottom corner of the Portuguese net with a laser finish. What a strike! We're level.
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Spain's forward Diego Costa (R) celebrates a goal with Spain's forward David Silva (C) and Spain's midfielder Sergio Busquets during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group B football match between Portugal and Spain at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi on June 15, 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
26’ CONFUSION! Isco thinks that the ball has crossed the line, with his strike smashing off the bar and down on to the ground. Replays suggest it wasn't over, but the Spanish players want to go to VAR.
44’ GOAL! Portugal 2-1 Spain: Ronaldo has a second goal, but what a blunder by De Gea! WOW! You don't see that very often. Ronaldo got the shot away from just inside the box and the Spain goalkeeper allows the effort to slip through his fingers.
55’ GOAL! Portugal 2-2 Spain: It's another equaliser and it's Costa again! Silva clipped a clever freekick to the back post, where Busquets beat Guedes to the header and knocked it down for Costa, who bundled home a finish from a matter of yards out.
58’ GOAL! Portugal 2-3 Spain: WHAT. A. GAME! A botched Portuguese clearance inside the box falls nicely to Nacho about 20 yards out and the Spain defender strikes the ball cleanly on the half volley, finding the back of the net off the inside of both posts.
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Nacho Fernandez - Portugal-Spain - Russia 2018 World Cup Group B - Getty Images
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88’ GOAL! Portugal 3-3 Spain: CRISTIANOOOO RONALDOOOO! The Portuguese number seven has netted his third of the game and he might just have saved his team a point! What a freekick. He curled it up and over the wall and into the top corner of the net!
92’ QUERESMA CHANCE! That looked like the chance to win it for Portugal. The winger cut inside, beat one and then two, but his shot is blocked by a combination of about three Spain defenders.
KEY STATS
Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player in World Cup history to score a hat-trick against Spain.
Nacho Fernandez became the first Real Madrid player to score from outside the box for Spain in the World Cup since Fernando Hierro (against Nigeria, 1998).
Diego Costa scored with his first ever shot at a World Cup.
Ronaldo became only the fourth player to score in four different World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018).
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